A day after a rupture in the coolant system in one of the reactors at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS), experts of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and officials of the power station, on Saturday, launched a probe to identify cause and nature of the leakage which forced the authorities to shut down the reactor on Friday morning.
"We have carried out a thorough radiation survey and there is no change in radiation level at the plant as well as outside as of today. There is no increase in radiation level," Lalit Kumar Jain, director of the plant, said. He added that two experts from AERB have arrived at the plant to take stock of the situation and help the plant engineers.
According to Mr Jain, radiation levels are being constantly monitored inside and outside the plant.
"Main focus of the probe is to identify the precise cause of the leakage in the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS) of the unit," he added.
On Friday, Mr Jain had issued a statement informing about the "small leak" that led to shutting down of the atomic reactor. “Unit 1 of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station, which was operating at its rated power, had to be shut down about 9 a.m. today, consequent to a small leak in the Primary Heat Transport (PHT) System. The reactor was shut down as per design provisions."
“All safety systems are working as intended. The radioactivity/radiation levels on the plant premises and outside are normal," he stated, stressing that there was no change in the radiation level following the leakage.
Located in south Gujarat, the Kakrapar atomic power plant consists of two units of pressurised heavy water reactors of 220 MW each.
