Nuclear Reactors 864 - Problems Have Shut Down The Two Reactors At Mexico's Only Nuclear Power Plant - Part 1 of 3 Parts

Part 1 of 3 Parts
     I often blog about commercial nuclear power reactors in the U.S, Europe and Asia. Occasionally, I blog about reactors in South America but I have never blogged about the single operational nuclear power plant in Mexico called the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant (CNLV). The CNLV experienced serious technical problems during 2020 that have carried over to 2021. Unit 2 is has been shut down for more than three weeks because there have been problems with refueling the reactor. Unit 1 needs to have some damage repaired which required it to be shut down.
     These failures mean that the Federal Commission for Electricity (CFE), owner of the plant in the municipality of Alto Lucero (Veracruz), does not have access to the eight hundred and ten megawatts produced by each of these reactors when they are fully operational. The one thousand six hundred and twenty megawatts produced by these two reactors accounts of four percent of the installed electrical capacity and two percent of Mexico’s total power generation.
     The most recent problem occurred on the 20th of January when Unit 1 was forced into an emergency shutdown which resulted in the risk color category switching from orange to red. Red risk means that it cannot be operated because its safety cannot be guaranteed. The origin of the problem was due to corrosion in the T11 auxiliary transformer and its secondary wiring. This defect was caused by acceleration of the turbines which interfered with the ignition of the transformer. This means that the nuclear power plant only has three emergency diesel generators to feed the generator in case internal fluids are lost.
     Early in the morning of the 21st of January, a fuel leak was discovered while the Emergency Diesel Generator II was being tested. This was reported in the Plant Condition Report #106688. This report said, says “Compensatory measures and contingency plans are in place. The organization is notified in order to stay in this state for the shortest time.”
    This diesel generator also failed maintenance tests in the fourth quarter of 2020. The National Commission for Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS), the Mexican regulator for the sector attached to the Ministry of Energy, discovered at least seven malfunctions according to the inspection report. PR-02/20-LV I was prepared in order to verify the safety of the reactor during the twentieth nuclear refueling of Unit 1 which was conducted between August and September of 2020.
     Luis Bravo is the communications coordinator for the conventional armed forces in Europe. He “categorically and categorically denies” any failures. He said, “The Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant is in a process of refueling as part of the maintenance that is scheduled long in advance, according to the standards and security protocols established by national regulations, it is internationalized.” In December of 2020, it was reported that the plant was rated as being in a hazardous condition for thirteen hours because of contractor work performed during the refueling process.
Please read Part 2 next