System 361 (FILTRA) provides a filtered pressure relief for the reactor containment in the event of its failure (pressure increase). System 361 is activated via a rupture disc V1 which should rupture at a differential pressure of 5.08 - 5.4 bar across the disc. During the refuelling outage it is possible to replace the rupture disc. After replacement during the outage in 2001, the rupture disc was tested and failed at 3.36 bar instead of as expected at a pressure of at least 5.08 - 5.4 bar. The reason was found to be that the wrong rupture disc had been installed during the outage in 2000. This means that pressure relief of the reactor containment (barrier) would have occurred at a pressure lower than calculated in the event of failure. The safety consequences are judged in this case to be insignificant since the specified suction pressure margins (NPSH) for residual heating and emergency cooling pumps would have been maintained. There would not either have been any unacceptable pressure transients in the reactor containment. The possible impact on the environment is judged to be small.
The Pacific News Bulletin (since September 1986) and its predecessor Pacific Bulletin was published for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) Movement by the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC), first based in Petersham (Australia) and later at Suva on the Fiji Islands. The NFIP movement grew out of the first regional Nuclear Free Pacific […]
On 29 June 2026, the Urenco Group issued a statement announcing that the UK Government formally requested the company to support its effort "to re-establish a nuclear fuel cycle for reactor fuel for defence purposes." The UK Government announced its intent to re-establish this program in November 2024. This announcement is part of a broader […]
The Netherlands has agreed to allow Urenco to be used for the British military nuclear program. This clears the way for uranium enriched by Urenco to be used in nuclear weapons. With his decision, Foreign Minister Berendsen (CDA Christen Democrats) is departing from the principle that civilian and military nuclear applications must remain strictly separate. […]
Behnam Raeesian is an internationally recognized visual artist and poster designer from Iran, known for bold political and cultural works. Through exhibitions, workshops, jury roles, and collaborations with cultural institutions worldwide, he has built a strong voice in contemporary political graphic design. His projects confront complex issues such as nuclear risk and technological impact, transforming […]
Everywhere you look, the nuclear industry’s hype machine is in overdrive. Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and the UK government all tout small modular reactors as the silver bullet for climate change and energy security. Tech billionaires are hiring nuclear veterans. Wall Street is whispering about “round-the-clock power” for artificial intelligence data centers. For those old enough […]
