Swedish-language daily HBL: One of Sosnovy Bor nuclear reactors is to be shut down

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The Swedish-language daily Hufvudstadsbladet (HBL) reports today that Russia’s federal nuclear energy company Rosenergoatom intends to shut down one of the reactors used at the nuclear power plant in the Russian city of Sosnovyi Bor. The facility, officially known as the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, is located on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland, about 80 kilometres away from St. Petersburg.
      The closure of Reactor No.1 on the site has reportedly been caused by problems with graphite, which is being used as a moderator within the reactor. According to HBL, the graphite has swollen and cracked.
     
In commercial operation since 1974, the reactor in question is the oldest of the four reactors in Sosnovyi Bor, and it is of the same RBMK type as used at the plant that exploded in the devastating Chernobyl accident in April 1986.
      Heikki Reponen, the head of the expert service unit of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland (STUK), commented to HBL that the authority is satisfied with the decision to shut down the unit. STUK was informed of the decision on Tuesday.
     
Reponen reported that STUK has been keeping a close eye on the situation at Sosnovyi Bor since the graphite issue was first identified towards the end of last year. "The abrupt changes in the graphite were a surprise to us," noted Reponen.
      He added that STUK is also pleased with the openness on the matter being shown by Russian officials.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Russia to store miscellaneous waste in nuclear waste repository at Sosnovy Bor plant near St. Petersburg (16.2.2012)
  Russian officials: numerous shortcomings at nuclear plants near Finland (20.6.2011)

Links:
  Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland (STUK)
  Sosnovyi Bor (Wikipedia)

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