INES level 2 or higher that occurred in private nuclear power plants are listed. Data
were acquired from IAEA PRIS (IAEA 2014) and the LAKA (2020). In the
following sections, accidental events are summarized by country, reactor type,
cause, and operational period.
11.4 Analysis of Accidental Events at Nuclear Power Plants
11.4.1 Analysis of Accidental Events by Country
Based on the database given in the appendix, nuclear accidental events are summarized by country in Table 11.2. Data from countries with ten or more nuclear reactors
are included. Here, the accidental event rate is defined as the average number of
accidental events during 1 year of reactor operation. There is a remarkably low
accidental event rate in the United States, despite the presence of approximately
100 reactors. The United States ranks fifth in terms of nuclear dependence, third for
number of events or accidents, and ninth for incidence rate. In contrast, France
shows the highest number of accidental events, and the accidental event rate is also
high. It is worthwhile to consider differences in nuclear regulation in these two
countries.
The American Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for the low
accidental event rate. Members of the NRC are appointed directly by the President of
the United States; thus, they have a high degree of independence. The NRC actively
seeks data and opinions from concerned citizens, operators, and stakeholders of
Table 11.1 Major accidental events in nuclear power plants before 1992
Event time
Operation
years
Reactor name
Reactor type
INES
level
January
21, 1969
3
Lucens
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
October
17, 1969
0
Saint Laurent
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
4
December
7, 1975
1
Greifswald
VVER
3
July 5, 1976
4
Jaslovské
Bohunice
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
February
22, 1977
5
Jaslovské
Bohunice
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
March
28, 1979
0
Three Mile
Island
PWR
5
March
13, 1980
9
Saint Laurent
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
4
April 26, 1986 3
Chernobyl
RBMK
7
October
19, 1989
3
Vandellòs
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
3
11 Construction of an East Asia Nuclear Security System
203
were acquired from IAEA PRIS (IAEA 2014) and the LAKA (2020). In the
following sections, accidental events are summarized by country, reactor type,
cause, and operational period.
11.4 Analysis of Accidental Events at Nuclear Power Plants
11.4.1 Analysis of Accidental Events by Country
Based on the database given in the appendix, nuclear accidental events are summarized by country in Table 11.2. Data from countries with ten or more nuclear reactors
are included. Here, the accidental event rate is defined as the average number of
accidental events during 1 year of reactor operation. There is a remarkably low
accidental event rate in the United States, despite the presence of approximately
100 reactors. The United States ranks fifth in terms of nuclear dependence, third for
number of events or accidents, and ninth for incidence rate. In contrast, France
shows the highest number of accidental events, and the accidental event rate is also
high. It is worthwhile to consider differences in nuclear regulation in these two
countries.
The American Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for the low
accidental event rate. Members of the NRC are appointed directly by the President of
the United States; thus, they have a high degree of independence. The NRC actively
seeks data and opinions from concerned citizens, operators, and stakeholders of
Table 11.1 Major accidental events in nuclear power plants before 1992
Event time
Operation
years
Reactor name
Reactor type
INES
level
January
21, 1969
3
Lucens
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
October
17, 1969
0
Saint Laurent
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
4
December
7, 1975
1
Greifswald
VVER
3
July 5, 1976
4
Jaslovské
Bohunice
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
February
22, 1977
5
Jaslovské
Bohunice
Heavy water-moderated CO 2
gas-cooled
4
March
28, 1979
0
Three Mile
Island
PWR
5
March
13, 1980
9
Saint Laurent
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
4
April 26, 1986 3
Chernobyl
RBMK
7
October
19, 1989
3
Vandellòs
Graphite-moderated gas-cooled
3
11 Construction of an East Asia Nuclear Security System
203