Third-generation reactors are safer than used to be at Fukushima or Chernobyl, Kazakh expert
In his exclusive interview with Kazinform News Agency director of the Kazakh National Nuclear Center, Erlan Batyrbekov said the most reliable third-generation nuclear reactors will be installed at the future nuclear power plant. The advanced reactors are more secure than they used to be at Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear power plants, Kazinform News Agency reports.
He explained the first-generation rectors had the lowest technological protection level. They were created to demonstrate the possibility in principle to generate nuclear power. The second-generation reactors were created to make this process as cost-efficient as possible. Such reactors were installed at the nuclear power plants at Three Mile Island, Fukushima and Chernobyl and each stuck in memory for nuclear accidents which led to massive radioactive contamination. Since that scientists started to develop reactors to be safe in their operation.
Batyrbekov said safety issues were put at the forefront. The operating nuclear power plants were largely updated, and significant changes were inserted into the projects on the advanced reactor installations under development. The third-generation reactors were developed with quite a different safety philosophy and improved technical and economic performance.
He added all modern nuclear power plants have multiple protection barriers from radioactive releases.
Erlan Batyrbekov underlined given the statistics of deaths per 1 kW generated power in global history, the nuclear power plants will be at the very end of the list.
As earlier reported, in an exclusive interview with Kazinform News Agency director of the National Nuclear Center Erlan Batyrbekov shared his view on electricity shortage, the practicality of a nuclear power station construction in Kazakhstan and the latest nuclear reactor technologies.
