Jellyfish Cause
Shutdown of Swedish Nuclear Reactor
August 30, 2005 — By Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — A Swedish nuclear
power plant shut down one of its three reactors Monday because of an
abnormal accumulation of jellyfish in the cooling system.
The Oskarshamn plant in southeastern Sweden uses water from the Baltic
Sea in its cooling tanks.
The water has been unusually rich in jellyfish in recent weeks, but the
problem grew worse Monday morning, forcing officials to shut down the
reactor.
"When there are too many jellyfish in the cooling water, the flow is
hindered and we have to clean it to keep the reactor going at full
effect," plant spokesman Erik Mattsen said.
Operator OKG said there was no danger to the public. The reactor was to
be restarted Tuesday.
The Oscarshamn plant supplies about 10 percent of the electricity used
in Sweden. The reactor that was shut down was commissioned in 1972 and
was Sweden's first commercial nuclear power unit.
Source: Associated Press |