Subscribe now

Nuclear bosses in hot water over dropped fuel rods

By Rob Edwards

21 July 2001

ENGINEERS were this week still trying to find a dozen highly radioactive fuel
rods that were dropped in an accident at one of Britain’s oldest nuclear power
stations.

The rods were lost in a fuel handling accident at the Chapelcross plant in
Scotland on 5 July. British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), the state-owned company in
charge of the plant, initially said it was a minor incident. But now it says all
four reactors at Chapelcross may have to be shut down. Fuel operations have
already been suspended at Calder Hall, an identical plant using the same
handling equipment, at Sellafield in…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Popular articles

Trending New Scientist articles

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop