PAEC clarifies

Apropos a news items related to KANUPP recently appeared in the media, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) would like to provide some basic facts related to the safety regime of KANUPP and its surroundings in general and the recent leakage incident in particular.
1. The safety of KANUPP is monitored by an independent Safety Committee within the plant, a Directorate of Nuclear Safety at the corporate level in PAEC, and an independent Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). Experts from IAEA and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) are also invited.
2. Continuous monitoring of radiation in and around the plant, is performed routinely, on land and in the ocean, as well as in all edibles in the surrounding area. Results are also monitored by PNRA.
3. KANUPP Off-site Radiation Emergency Plan (KOFREP) is already in place and copies are available with all relevant authorities in Karachi, including the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Sindh.
4. The plant is also implementing an aging management programme which includes necessary inspections and rehabilitation of all equipment which could be affected by age.
5. This incident of heavy water leakage was minor in nature. It has been reported to IAEA through PNRA, and is assessed at Level 1 on a scale of 1-7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) established by the IAEA. It will be classified as an incident, not an accident.
6. As a result of the leakage incident, no injury to the personnel, radiation or otherwise, was caused, or is likely. The plant and its neighbourhoods are entirely safe and there has been no release of radioactivity anywhere. Most of the heavy water leaked has also been recovered for re-use.
7. A formal investigation into the causes of the event is already underway. Early notification as routinely required by the PNRA, has already been issued. The plant will restart in due course after necessary in-service inspections have been made, which are already under way.-PR