Nuclear reactor turned off in Romania, 2nd time in a week

Friday, November 16, 2007

The Associated Press, November 14, 2007 - CONSTANTA, Romania: A nuclear reactor in Romania automatically switched off Wednesday for the second time in a week, officials said.

There was no danger to workers or to people living near the Cernavoda nuclear plant in eastern Romania, National Nuclear Electric Co. spokeswoman Mihaela Stiopol said.

"The reactor automatically turned off after it received a false alarm while it was being tested," she said.

It was shut down Nov. 7 after it began internally producing radioactive material. There was no harm caused to residents or the environment, officials said.

It will be turned on again in 48 hours, she added.

The nuclear plant, which houses two reactors, is some 150 kilometers (90 miles) east of Bucharest.

The second reactor went online in May, after being built under a contract with the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and ANSALDO-Italia. The first reactor began working 10 years ago.

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