Kakrapar atomic power plant shut down after snag, no radiation threat

Chennai: The first atomic power unit at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) was shut down on Friday morning following a leakage in the reactor`s coolant system, said the sectoral regulator, adding there was no radioactivity release or exposure.

In a statement, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) said the 220 MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) shutdown automatically at around 9 a.m. following a leak in its coolant system.

A plant emergency was declared signifying heightened state of alert for the plant personnel and management, the AERB said, adding a team of additional experts have been deputed to KAPS to make an independent assessment while already one expert is at the plant site.

It said aAll the reactor`s safety systems are functioning normally, it said. There has been no abnormal release of radioactivity outside the plant or radiation exposures due to the leakage.

AERB has asked KAPS to keep the unit under shutdown till the incident is investigated and corrective action is taken.

KAPS is part of Indian atomic power plant operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL).

The company has two 220 MW units there but the second unit is under shut down since July 2015.