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INTRODUCTION
Nuclear power makes a substantial contribution to the world's electrical energy requirements. Worldwide there are almost 400 reactors which have a total generating capacity of about 265 000 megawatts of electricity. Almost 200 of these reactors are of the pressurised water type. A further 160 reactors are under construction of which over 100, including the two being built at Daya Bay, are pressurised water reactors, (ref 1).
In order to minimise power losses during transmission, power stations need to be constructed close to major users of electricity. Many nuclear power stations are located within a few ten's of kilometres of large centres of population, (See Table 1.1). Construction of the Daya Bay plant some 50 km from the densely populated areas of Hong Kong is therefore not a unique situation.
TABLE 1.1 EXAMPLES OF NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS CLOSE TO POPULATION CENTRES
Name
Population Centre
Population
New York (USA) Philadelphia (USA) Detroit (USA) Pittsburg (USA)
17 300 000
$ 200 000
4 500 000
2 100 000
Nuclear Plant
Name
Distance (km)
Miami (USA) Cincinnati (USA) Pusan (Korea)
Taipei (Taiwan)
Kyoto (Japan) Lyons (France)
Hamburg (W Germany)
Glasgow (UK)
I 900 000,
I 400 000
2 500 000
2 000 000
I 400 000
I 200 000
2 300 000
I 800 000
Indian Point
Limerick
Enrico Fermi Beaver Valley
Shipping Port Turkey Point Zimmer
Kori
Chinshan Kuosheng Ohi Bugey St Alban
Creys Malville Stade Krummel
Hunterston
40
48
48
40
40
40
39
35
28
25
30
30
45
fo w w = 8 w g
35
40
60
The potential hazards associated with a well designed, constructed and operated nuclear power station are small compared to other accepted risks met in everyday life. Nevertheless such power stations do, in the event of a major accident, have the potential to release radioactive material into the environment. Although this is an extremely remote possibility it is sensible to be prepared for such a contingency and all nuclear power stations should have a contingency plan which sets out what needs to be done in the event of a major accident.
The objective of contingency planning is to ensure the rapid mobilisation of an organisation which will assess the situation and take appropriate actions to mitigate the effects of the accident. The plan should provide for the availability, at all times, of trained technical and administrative staff, together with the appropriate equipment for dealing with the emergency. It should also specify the duties of all those involved, describe the facilities at their disposal and outline the operational procedures which should be followed. The plan should be flexible enough to cope with a wide range of accidents from the trivial to the serious.
It is important to appreciate that contingency plans are not justified for every conceivable eventuality. For example, plans are needed for dealing with the aftermath of a major earthquake in Tokyo or San Francisco but not in
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