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Finnish energy company Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) previously announced that it will operate at Reactor 2 at the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant at 12 noon. 22 min. In local (and Lithuanian) time, the sensors detected a violation of the thermal insulation of the main steam pipe, so the protection systems of the power plant automatically shut down the reactor. The company said it was clearing up the situation and preparing to cool down the reactor to reach a cold shutdown stage, when the coolant pressure becomes equal to atmospheric and its temperature does not exceed 200 degrees Celsius.
According to TVO, the operation of the power plant was not interrupted during this incident.
The company noted that no radioactive contaminants were released into the environment during this incident and that there is no risk to humans or the environment.
Later, STUK acknowledged that the increased radiation level was recorded, but only within the reactor building.
“The emergency situation is related to the fact that radiation monitoring systems have detected an increased level of radiation within the power plant,” said Petteri Tiippana, CEO of STUK, during a press conference.
However, he confirmed that “the surrounding people are safe, they are not threatened.”
Mr. Tiippana stated that all protective measures had been taken immediately at the plant.
“Currently, the condition of the facility is stable and safe. During the day, no further bursts of radiation levels were observed, but it is still unknown why the radiation level increased at the facility,” said the head of STUK.
TVO CEO Jarmo Tanhua said the incident took place in a reactor building where increased radiation is common, so employees never visit. “Therefore, the incident did not pose any danger to them,” he explained.
Tanhua added that the incident may be related to “the reactor’s water filtration system. It is likely that some of the radioactive water entered the reactor, which triggered the alarm. But that is now clearing up. “
The director of the company has not yet been able to say how much radiation has actually increased in the reactor unit.
“This is a unique event in the history of the nuclear power plant, nothing like this has happened here,” Tanhua said.
The Olkiluoto Power Station, on the island off the west coast of Finland, has two boiling water reactors (VVRs) in operation with a capacity of 890 megawatts each. The third reactor under construction at the plant is expected to come online in February 2022.
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