Ageing Nuclear Plants

Ageing Nuclear Plants

Dr Arvind Kumar

In the aftermath of Fukushima tragedy, triggered on 11 March 2011, that left 19,000 people dead or missing, the IAEA has raised serious safety concerns on global ageing nuclear plants, in a recently released report. According to the report, eighty percent of the world's nuclear power plants are more than 20 years old and many operators have begun programs, or expressed an intention, to run reactors beyond their planned design lifetimes. The IAEA report observes: “There are growing expectations that older nuclear reactors should meet enhanced safety objectives, closer to that of recent or future reactor designs. There is a concern about the ability of the ageing nuclear fleet to fulfill these expectations. It is reported that about 70% of the world's 254 research reactors have been in operation for over 30 years ‘with many of them exceeding their original design life.’ Despite the disaster in Fukushima, countries such as China and India continue to look to nuclear energy to meet their growing energy needs and some ‘are even accelerating their nuclear energy programmes.’ France is building its first ‘advanced’ reactor and Russia is seeking to double its nuclear energy output by 2020.

The IAEA report states that nuclear power is now safer than it was a year ago and the ‘operational level of NPP (nuclear power plant) safety around the world remains high.’ It has cited steady improvements in terms of unplanned reactor shutdowns in recent years. However, it also highlights an ageing nuclear fleet, with 80% of the 435 facilities more than two decades old at the end of 2011. This ‘could impact safety and their ability to meet member states' energy requirements in an economical and efficient manner.’