Russian nuclear power station shuts off following safety system error

	Urals facility shuts down Byeloyarsk power unit at 9.15 local time after automated safety system’s false activation.
	 
	This incident adds to the rising concerns regarding Russia’s nuclear activities.


According to the Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation subsidiary, Russian officials reportedly shut down Block 4 of the Byeloyarsk nuclear power plant following a false alarm from their safety system on August 18th.

Rosenergoatom has been quoted stating that a routine algorithm was followed to carry out the stoppage and that there was no unusual radiation activity in or around the facility. They further added that the power unit would resume its operation once the reasons for the safety system’s malfunction are identified.

The heightened concerns regarding Russian nuclear activities caused by this incident come along the heels of a lethal accident that occurred during an apparent new propulsion system testing at an Arkhangelsk facility, the complete details of which officials are yet to disclose.

An evacuation of a nearby town was announced by Russian officials, which was later called off.

A number of US officials have expressed their beliefs regarding the involvement of radioactive elements, and analysts are focusing their attention on an under-development nuclear powered cruise missile, announced by President Vladimir Putin last year.

Russian federal weather service announced a brief radiation level rise in Severodvinsk on August 13th, following the explosion of August 8th, while local authorities asked people to remain calm.

On August 15th, a small amount of airborne radioactive iodine was recorded by a Norway-based radiation-monitoring agency, on equipment located over a hundred kilometers from the accident site at Arkhangelsk.

The Byeloyarsk nuclear power plant began its operations in the year 1964.

A nuclear power facility in northwest Moscow shut down three of four power generating units last month after a reported short circuit of a transformer. It has since restarted its operations.

 Source Credit: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-nuclear-stoppage-urals/30115884.html