"In connection with increased pressure of temperature in the plant, a leak occurred from a very small valve located in a chemical sampling tube. It is adjacent to the reactor, and therefore it must be turned off in order for the valve to be fixed, says Anna Collin, press manager at Ringhals to TT.
Reactor 4 has been at a standstill since last August. The restart has been postponed several times due to the fact that the repair of the damaged pressure tank has been more complicated than expected.
Losses in electricity production
The shutdown has meant a break in Swedish electricity production.
Now the restart is being postponed further. According to Anna Collin, press manager at Ringhals, the new start date is Saturday, April 1. Once operational, it takes about 80 hours for the reactor to reach full power.
"Safety and stability always come first. We do not restart a nuclear power plant with known deviations, even if it is such a small valve," says Anna Collin.
"All systems and components are tested extra thoroughly as the plant has been at a standstill for seven months. We believe that this action will mean that we will restart on April 1," she says.