Egypt reactor failed in April but no radiation leak, says nuclear chief

Egypt reactor failed in April says nuclear chief

CAIRO — Egypt’s nuclear chief says there was a breakdown in the country’s small Russian-built reactor last April but no radiation leaked out.

Mohammed el-Kulali, head of the Egyptian Nuclear Organization, told the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm Tuesday that the 2-megawatt research reactor failed and had to be shut down after a cooling pump broke.

He blamed the breakdown on a lack of coordination between the engineers in charge and those responsible for safety, as well as “over confidence.”

Experts from the U.N. nuclear watchdog later visited the site and issued recommendations for upgrading the nearly 50-year-old reactor.

The news comes as Egypt is preparing to built its first nuclear power plant at a cost of between $1.5 billion and $1.8 billion.