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MOSCOW, 14 Jul. The consequences of the emergency at the uranium enrichment enterprise «Ural Electrochemical Plant» (UEIP, ZATO Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region) do not threaten the population, the statement of the state corporation «Rosatom» says.
«July 14 at 9:13 local time indoors A depressurization of a cylinder with depleted uranium hexafluoride with a volume of 1 cubic meter occurred at workshop No. 53 of the Ural Electrochemical Plant. As a result of mechanical impacts, one person was injured,» the statement says.
«»The incident was promptly localized, does not create risks for the population. Sanitization of the workshop premises is being carried out. The rest of the workshops are operating as usual,» Rosatom notes.
The radiation background was measured at the site.
«It amounted to 0.17 μSv, which corresponds to natural values,» the statement emphasizes.
«A commission has been formed, the causes of the incident are being established,» Rosatom added.
Depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUHF) is a by-product of processing uranium hexafluoride into enriched uranium. The compound is 1.7 times less radioactive than natural uranium and poses no threat to human health.
DUHF is produced as a result of uranium enrichment in gas centrifuge cascades within the nuclear fuel production chain. The substance is used in nuclear power. In addition to the nuclear fuel cycle, depleted uranium, which has a high density and high melting point, can be used in other industries. In particular, in the production of screens for medical equipment for protection against X-ray and gamma radiation, counterweights and gyroscopes in aircraft and shipbuilding, catalysts for some chemical reactions, etc. Fluorine-containing products obtained as a result of defluorination of DUHF are hydrofluoric hydrogen fluoride, — are sold on the market as commercial products of chemical production.
JSC «UEIP» — part of «Rosatom» is the world's largest enterprise for the enrichment of uranium supplied to meet the needs for nuclear fuel of nuclear power plants and other nuclear power plants. Now almost half of domestic uranium enrichment capacities are concentrated at UEIP.