Finland n-power plant shutdown in Dec due to human error

Helsinki, Feb 11 : The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) has confirmed that an automatic emergency shutdown of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on December 10, 2020, was due to human error and not because of a technological fault or equipment breakdown.
In a statement on Wednesday, the STUK said that was the first emergency shutdown of a nuclear plant in the country, since the beginning of using nuclear energy in the national power grid in the mid-1970s, reports Xinhua news agency.
It explained that during maintenance a pump had been stopped, and when it was restarted improperly water had started going in the wrong direction, causing erroneous entry of hot water to the reactor cooling system.
STUK Deputy Director Tomi Routamo said that this error had resulted in the development of highly radiating isotope 16 in the system.
Then radiation levels in the circulation of steam increased three- or fourfold, triggering the emergency shutdown. Initially, a much more serious fuel leak was suspected.
Routamo added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also reacted upon a Finnish notification while the seriousness of the situation was still uncertain.