-Caveat Lector- Now here's a surprise! Hilary Chernobyl nuclear reactor closed after radioactive leak Source: AFP | Published: Friday December 3 3:39:41 AM KIEV, Dec 2 - The newly re-opened third reactor at Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster in 1986, has been shut down because of a malfunction in its emergency cooling system, a plant spokesman said today. "A leak was detected Wednesday night in the pipes transporting radioactive water and used to cool down the third reactor," the Chernobyl spokesman said, adding however that no increase in radioactivity was recorded. Reactor number three, which is the only one in operation at the plant, was reopened on November 26 after five months of work to ensure the plant's safety. The repair work included checking and reinforcing the reactor's pipe system, which was discovered in recent years to be riddled with hundreds of cracks. An environment ministry official said the leak proved the dilapidated plant was a ticking time-bomb that threatened the whole of Europe. "We're shocked. The plant has got to be shut down for safety reasons. We cannot put the lives of the population in danger," Vadim Grichenko said. Grichenko said Kiev was still waiting to find out if it would receive the $US3.1 billion ($A4.75 billion) dollar compensation handouts promised by the G7 group of industrialised nations, in return for closing the plant by the year 2000. "It is vitally important for us to know whether we are going to get this money. However, for now the safety issue has to over-ride all financial considerations," Grichenko said. The plant spokesman said the reactor was scheduled to start functioning again on December 8. An independent expert said the lack of funds meant the repair work carried out on the reactor had been shoddy. "Everything has been done in a hurry," Georgy Kochinsky said. Reactor number four melted down on April 26, 1986, spreading a radioactive cloud over much of Europe and claiming between 3000 and 12,000 lives, according to Ukrainian authorities. Reactor number two was shut down in 1991 after a fire, and reactor number one was taken out of service in 1996 as part of an international agreement to decommission the plant. <http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/9912/03/A13929-1999Dec3.shtml> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
