Earlier this month, the BBC West programme 'Inside Out' raised further questions over the safety of Oldbury nuclear power station. Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that the deteriorating graphite core at the Oldbury plant, near Bristol has lost more than a third of it's weight and is worse than at any other reactor in the country.
In the documents, management are accused of not knowing enough about the science behind the problem and it is admitted that the graphite loss increases safety risks. Independent nuclear experts argue that as Oldbury, which has already had extended closures due to these problems, has progressed beyond the previous levels of graphite depletion, there is now no supporting data to assess safety levels.
Furthermore they challenge the secretive Nuclear Installations Inspectorate absurd assumption that the strength reduces progressively with loss of graphite mass and claim that structural changes and even meltdown are possible - the so-called 'cliff edge' situation that the regulator denies.
Oldbury chiefs say they regularly inspect the reactor, but they can't inspect all the fuel channels as it would take five years to unload the fuel. Basically they don't know what they don't know. The plant was built in 1967 and due to close within 30 years, but they are trying to stretch it to 2008. This is the gravest folly.
Please join Greens and others in the growing calls to close Oldbury now and investment in a Green energy revolution.
In the documents, management are accused of not knowing enough about the science behind the problem and it is admitted that the graphite loss increases safety risks. Independent nuclear experts argue that as Oldbury, which has already had extended closures due to these problems, has progressed beyond the previous levels of graphite depletion, there is now no supporting data to assess safety levels.
Furthermore they challenge the secretive Nuclear Installations Inspectorate absurd assumption that the strength reduces progressively with loss of graphite mass and claim that structural changes and even meltdown are possible - the so-called 'cliff edge' situation that the regulator denies.
Oldbury chiefs say they regularly inspect the reactor, but they can't inspect all the fuel channels as it would take five years to unload the fuel. Basically they don't know what they don't know. The plant was built in 1967 and due to close within 30 years, but they are trying to stretch it to 2008. This is the gravest folly.
Please join Greens and others in the growing calls to close Oldbury now and investment in a Green energy revolution.
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