18th Jul, 2008

French nuclear plant has broken pipe leaking radioactive material for several years.

French nuclear firm Areva detected a uranium leak that could date back several years at a factory it operates in southeastern France, the company announced.  Areva, a government-controlled company which makes nuclear reactors and deals with uranium, said the leak came from a buried pipe transporting liquid uranium and that the crack in the tubing was “several years old”.   

The company discovered the leaking pipe during a maintenance operation.   The leaking pipe connects a nuclear fuel fabrication facility to a treatment station.  Monitoring measures currently show the leaking material is contained and has not migrated outside the building into the environment.

Leave a response

Your response:

Categories