IAEA inspects Indian nuclear power plants

First safety audit of Indian-made reactors shows mixed results.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its safety audit of the two 220MW reactors at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station concluded that both reactors can withstand a Fukushima-type accident. It said, however, that improvements are necessary in the plant’s fire protection and electrical cabling systems.

Miroslav Lipar, head of the Operational Safety Division at the IAEA in Vienna said India emerged a winner with a high global safety rank.

The IAEA audit is unprecedented. It is the first time India has allowed safety inspectors from the IAEA to thoroughly audit an Indian-made nuclear plant. The IAEA inspected two nuclear reactors at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station, namely units 3 & 4, for operational safety. Both reactors are Indian-made.