IAEA recommends boosting safety at Rajasthan nuke plants

New Delhi: The global nuclear watchdog today suggested strengthening certain fire safety measures and stronger root-cause analyses of problems at the two atomic power plants in Rawat Bhata in Rajasthan. The Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) made the recommendations after a detailed review at units 3 & 4 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station which had begun on October 29. [caption id=“attachment_524309” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image.[/caption] The international experts were also impressed by a number of good practices at RAPS and have agreed to share it with the global nuclear industry for consideration. “The plant should enhance actions to maintain electrical cable conditions at a high standard,” said a statement by the OSART mission, which comprised experts from eight countries besides the IAEA. It also recommended that the fire doors inspection and maintenance programme should be enhanced to identify and correct their function. “Certain aspects of the plant’s surveillance testing programme should be further enhanced; and the plant should enhance root-cause analyses to systematically identify all learning opportunities,” the OSART statement said. It said the RAPS management expressed their determination to address all the areas identified for improvement and requested that the IAEA schedule of a follow-up mission in approximately 15 months. The OSART team has given the plant management a draft of its  recommendations, suggestions and good practices in the form of ’technical notes’ for factual comments. These will be reviewed at the IAEA headquarters and a report would be submitted to the government within the next three months. PTI