The annual drill at the Vandellòs II nuclear power plant has tested the response of the plant’s owner, ANAV, and the emergency teams to a possible fire at the facilities, which would have triggered a deterioration of the reactor core. As reported by the Consell de Seguretat Nuclear (CSN), the exercise began around 10 in the morning with a warning of complete loss of external electricity supply and the detection of a fire that would have made it impossible for the security teams of the Center for Emergency Management Support (CAGE). Additionally, a cooling system has broken which, along with the loss of mitigation equipment, has caused the problem in the core.
As detailed by CSN itself, the drill should make it possible to verify that the owner’s actions to recover the plant in safe conditions meet the requirements of the Interior Emergency Plan (PEI), with the participation of the organization’s Emergency Response Organization and the sub-delegation of the Spanish government in Tarragona.
The technicians have been in contact with the same sub-delegation and the General Directorate of Civil Protection to recommend the radiological protection measures that could be considered necessary in this scenario. In this regard, the CSN has reminded the Operations Coordination Center (CECOP) of the sub-delegation to evacuate and prepare radiological prophylaxis of the 10km perimeter around the plant, as well as the confinement and preparation of prophylaxis in the area between 10 and 30km. Also the controls established by the Tarragona Nuclear Emergency Plan (PENTA).
As a result of the incident, the licensee of the plant has come to simulate the declaration of an emergency alert from his PEI and the CSN has activated its Emergency Response Organization. This has reached mode three which involves extensively activating your ER task forces. The event has been classified as level 3 on the Nuclear and Radiological Success Scale (INES).
