Minor fuel failure for Daya Bay 2

A fuel assembly in the reactor core of the Daya Bay 2 has suffered "very small leakage" causing an increased level of radiation in coolant water since 23 May. The zirconium alloy fuel rods in a reactor core can occasionally suffer mechanical damage which can allow coolant water in the sealed primary loop to make contact with ceramic fuel pellets. The reactor continues to function normally, but operators become aware of the event through radiation monitoring of coolant water. The reactor is operated by China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company and part-owned by Hong Kong -based China Light and Power, who told the regional government on 15 June that there was "no impact on the public or the operation of the facility" from the "very small leakage." The Hong Kong government said today that its network of radiation monitoring stations had registered nothing abnormal and the incident rates below any safety significance on the International Nuclear Event Scale, but is facing criticism for being slow in sharing its notification of the incident with the public.