Angra 1 plant is fined for not reporting radioactive water leaks in 2022

Ibama fined Eletronuclear, the company responsible for operating the Angra 1 nuclear power plant, in Angra dos Reis, for leaking radioactive water in 2022. to BRL 2.1 million.

The company will also have to carry out a complete assessment of the damage caused by the incident and disclose information about the case within 30 days, after ruling by the Justice, at the request of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF). Any activity that could aggravate the contamination of “water, soil and air” should also be avoided.

According to information from the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN), the case took place on September 16, and the commission had not been informed by Eletrobrás / Eletronuclear. Three teams were sent to the scene to investigate the occurrence.

“The result of the inspections carried out showed that, during a routine operation of recirculation and purification of operating water, an isolation valve failed, allowing the release of a volume of water into the discharge channel of the plant, estimated at 90 liters at most”, points out the CNEN note.

In September 2022, Ibama received complaints about leaking contaminated water from one of the Angra I systems, sending an Environmental Emergencies team to inspect the site.

However, the survey did not confirm the leak, but it was determined that the company would provide information about the occurrence.

CNEN said it was informed of the situation by Ibama and the State Institute for the Environment (INEA) on September 30, 2022. Thus, the team residing at the plant collected samples from the site, which indicated “the presence of artificial radionuclides at levels that did not represent any risk to the population and/or the environment”.

According to Ibama, after completing the analysis of the reports presented by Eletronuclear and CNEN, at the end of February 2023, the company was fined.

“The documents made it possible to confirm the leak, which would have been caused by “degradation (corrosion) of the leak containment system”, reports Ibama.

Even so, the environmental authority points out that protection and control actions were taken and that “no radiological control limit was violated”, indicating that the fact would not cause harm to the health of the population around the plant. CNEN also reinforced that no risk to the population or the environment was identified.

Also according to Ibama, a device that determines that “environmental accidents must be communicated via the National System of Environmental Emergencies – SIEMA, immediately after the occurrence” was not complied with.

The MPF questions the company’s stance and points to evidence that there was an attempt to hide the leak.

According to Federal Attorney Aldo de Campos Costa, author of the action, “the public civil action filed by the Federal Public Ministry is an important step towards ensuring the communities affected by the nuclear accident the right to express concerns and ask questions.”

What does Electronuclear say?

According to Eletronuclear, on September 16 there was an “unscheduled release of a small volume of water containing substances with a low level of radioactivity”.

However, according to the company, the release values ​​would be below the limits to be considered an accident, following the legislation. Thus, the case was treated as an “operational incident”, informed in the expected regular reports.

The company also pointed out that it intensified on its own and, later, at the request of Ibama, radiological monitoring at the river water disposal site “without finding any significant results”.

Finally, Eletronuclear said that it respects the assessment of Ibama technicians, but that it will appeal the decision, understanding that it complied with what is determined by legislation.