Akkuyu NGS Safety Statement

After the 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Akkuyu Nuclear A.Ş made a safety statement.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.4 quakes were felt around Kilis, Adana and Hatay, as well as Mersin.

One of the questions that comes to mind with the earthquake is whether the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) is close to the fault line or will be affected by a possible earthquake.

ACCORDING TO AFAD, MERSIN IS AT FIFTH DEGREE RISK

Mersin, where Turkey’s first nuclear power plant Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) was built, is among the regions with a 5th degree earthquake risk, that is, low risk, according to AFAD.

There is no active geological fault line within a 100 kilometer radius of the area where the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is being built.

Equipped with the latest technologies, the plant is built to withstand both magnitude 9 earthquakes and tsunamis.

Although the Ecemiş fault, which affects a part of the Gülnar district, does not pass near the site of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, steel casings with advanced physical and mechanical properties are used at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant to withstand the most severe earthquakes. .

Another measure that is taken against earthquakes and tsunamis is the height of the plant above sea level. The Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is being built at an altitude of 10.5 meters above sea level so as not to be affected by earthquakes and tsunamis.

THE RESEARCH WAS CARRIED OUT CLOSE TO THE FIELD

Many studies have been carried out since the 1970s to determine the seismic characteristics and risks of the area where the Akkuyu nuclear power plant is built.

To monitor the seismic situation, 15 seismic stations were established and studies on faulting, seismic hazard and tsunami formation risk were conducted near Akkuyu.

Detailed investigations were also carried out within a 300 kilometer radius of the power plant site. As a result of these comprehensive studies, 78 separate reports totaling 27,000 pages were prepared.

In order to update the data within the scope of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirements, between 2011 and 2012, the Kandilli Observatory Earthquake Research Institute of Boğaziçi University (KRDAE), the Russian Academy of Science-World Institute for Physics (IPE RAS), Worley Parsons Europe and the United States of America RIZZO carried out four different seismic risk studies for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant by four independent research groups.

It was noted that the Department of Civil Engineering and Marine Engineering Research Center of the Middle East Technical University (METU) also carried out a comprehensive tsunami hazard assessment for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the Akkuyu NPP Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report approved by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, the Akkuyu NPP site is considered among the low earthquake risk regions in Turkey, according to the study conducted by the Middle East Technical University (METU). ) Earthquake Engineering Research Center.

CALCULATED TSUNAMI HAZARD

Making assessments about the earthquake in a broadcast that participated in a television channel, the Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Earthquake Foundation, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erdik stressed that he was conducting a scientific study on the effects of earthquakes on the nuclear power plant project.

Honorary Professor of Bogazici University, famous earthquake expert Prof.Dr. Erdik responded to the question whether Akkuyu NPP is under earthquake risk or not:

“I am one of those who did the first project of the nuclear power plant in 1975. I was one of those who did his last project. The power plant is currently not in danger in terms of earthquakes.

We brought the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that we predicted at the moment (by modeling) 20 km from Akkuyu on the Ecemiş fault. It was done accordingly.

In other words, the earthquake level measured in this earthquake is some 400 of the earthquake level used in the Akkuyu design. There is no structural problem in this type of nuclear power plant. There may be problems with the business, but not a structural problem. The tsunami risk was also calculated. Everything is calculated.”

‘IN THE REGION WITH LOW SEISMIC’

Istanbul Cerrahpaşa University Head of Department of Geological Engineering Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Öztürk, speaking on a TV channel, emphasized that Akkuyu is among the regions where seismicity is low in Turkey.

teacher. Dr. Öztürk, Nowadays, there are places where the nuclear power plant is established in Akkuyu, some more passive areas like in Sinop or the center of Konya. So there are areas that are a little further from the fault. These are places where we don’t expect great destruction. That is why the three places they said to build a nuclear power plant were Akkuyu region, Sinop and Edirne (Thrace).

Hacettepe University Faculty of Engineering Department of Nuclear Power Engineering Professor Prof. Dr. Şule Ergün also said that safety is the first priority in nuclear power plant projects and that it is not possible to make concessions from them and shared the following statements:

“Safety criteria are very important in nuclear power plant projects and it is not possible to compromise them. For this reason, all international and national standards have been met when determining the location where the Akkuyu nuclear power plant will be built.

The plant, which will be made up of 4 power units with 3+ VVER-1200 type generation reactors, each with a power of 1200 MW, has safety priority. In addition to active safety systems, these new generation nuclear power plants are also equipped with passive systems that do not require power supply, operator intervention, or automatic system against the negative effects of a major earthquake and tsunami. An example of this is the system that passively cools the steam generator, which is an important part of passive safety systems.

Another example of these safety systems are the control rods that descend into the reactor core to stop the chain reaction under the influence of gravity. These are just two examples among the many elements of plant security systems. Structural tests and controls are carried out at Akkuyu NPP to demonstrate that safety conditions are met and that it has the capacity to withstand extraordinary external effects such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and tsunamis”. (DHA)