nuclear-news

Strike and problem of decaying concrete at Canada’s nuclear power plants

those employees should also be demanding safety in their workplace as well. At least one Candu plant – Gentilly-2 in Quebec – is decaying .

The plant is one of many that regulators say is operating well past its expected life of 25 to 30 years

Major Problems Facing Canada’s Nuclear Sector http://www.care2.com/causes/major-problems-facing-canadas-nuclear-sector.html#ixzz20GmGP3Pi by Amy Boughner July 9, 2012 Canada’s nuclear industry is once again facing major issues. More than 800 Candu Energy employees  are on strike as of the morning of July 9, looking for higher wages. The scientists, engineers and technologists work at Candu plants in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

The plants they work in supply power around the world.

Perhaps those employees should also be demanding safety in their workplace as well. At least one Candu plant – Gentilly-2 in Quebec – is decaying . The concrete and steel encasement that prevents radiation leaks at the plant could fail if the decay is allowed to continue, according to a 2010 report from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

The plant is one of many that regulators say is operating well past its expected life of 25 to 30 years, but the CNSC says it continues to be safe and has extended the plant’s license through 2016.

Atomic Energy of Canada’s (AECL) solution to the issues that shut down
Chalk River was to sell the Candu division  to SNC-Lavelin (in a deal
that saw the government essentially paying the engineering firm to
take the division off their hands). AECL is also looking for a private
partner  for their nuclear labs in Chalk River.

While AECL continues to try to find solutions to issues in the nuclear
sector, the Harper government continues to focus on oil sands
development rather than trying to develop a clean energy economy. The
government also continues to attack anyone who questions this
strategy.

Will we have a real crisis before things start to change? We’ll have
to wait and see.

July 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, employment, safety