Japanese firm draws flak over US nuke plant repairs
Source: Agencies |
December 19, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A Japanese company that manufactured the troubled steam generators at a key nuclear power plant in southern California might be looking for fixes with the wrong test equipment, United States federal regulators have disclosed.
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report found that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries failed to verify that more than 1,000 tubes being used in a generator mock-up to explore potential repairs matched the specifications for tubing installed in the sidelined generators at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, which is located between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Excessive wear to tubing that carries radioactive water has been at the heart of problems at San Onofre, which hasn't produced electricity since January, after the plant was abruptly shut down after a tube break released a trace of radiation.
The findings come as the US agency plans to question officials from the plant's operator, Southern California Edison, about the company's proposal to restart one of the hobbled twin reactors, then run it at reduced power in an attempt to stop the vibrations that have been damaging tubes.
Southern California Edison referred questions on the Japan inspection to Mitsubishi, which had no immediate comment.
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report found that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries failed to verify that more than 1,000 tubes being used in a generator mock-up to explore potential repairs matched the specifications for tubing installed in the sidelined generators at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, which is located between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Excessive wear to tubing that carries radioactive water has been at the heart of problems at San Onofre, which hasn't produced electricity since January, after the plant was abruptly shut down after a tube break released a trace of radiation.
The findings come as the US agency plans to question officials from the plant's operator, Southern California Edison, about the company's proposal to restart one of the hobbled twin reactors, then run it at reduced power in an attempt to stop the vibrations that have been damaging tubes.
Southern California Edison referred questions on the Japan inspection to Mitsubishi, which had no immediate comment.
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