The revival of a dormant nuclear power plant project in Cuba has sparked warnings by some politicians of a potential Chernobyl-style radiation threat to nearby Florida.
While the politicians and nuclear experts disagree on the magnitude of the danger, they agree that the plant, designed to outmoded early-1980s Russian safety standards, poses a threat to the health of Cubans and possibly Americans.Construction of the two nuclear reactors at the Juragua power plant in Cienfuegos, 160 miles from the Florida Keys, was suspended in 1992 following the Soviet Union's collapse.
But last month, Russia announced it would form a global consortium to generate $800 million to finish the plant, Cuba's only nuclear power facility.
"This is a potential Chernobyl right in our back yard," said Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who along with fellow Cuban-American Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart has called on the White House to pressure Russia to halt the project.
Chernobyl, a city in Ukraine in the former Soviet Union, was the site of the world's worst nuclear reactor accident in 1986. Ukraine has estimated thousands of people have died as a result of the accident, which occurred when the core of a reactor overheated causing an explosion and fire.
"These plants should not be allowed to be put into operation," said Diaz-Balart, a Republican and a leading activist against Cuban President Fidel Castro.
Russian officials have said Juragua, which could save cash-strapped Cuba 5 million tons of crude oil a year, can be up and running by 1997.
While the experts disagree over the level of radiation threat posed by the plant, they agree its design and construction are not up to international standards.
"This is not a Chernobyl-type concern," said Dr. Nils Diaz, professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Florida. "We do have serious reservations regarding the present design and the present construction."
The Juragua plant, whose reactors are similar to many in the United States, has a "significant margin of safety," Diaz said. But its containment system contains a design flaw that" has not been cleared up."
A 1992 report by the U.S. General Accounting Office said there is evidence of poor construction at the plant, citing testimony from former Juragua workers who raised concerns about shoddy installation of cooling pipes, bad welds and improper storage of equipment at the seaside plant during the building hiatus.
"We have concern that the equipment for the reactor . . . was actually left outside under a plastic tent, instead of being properly warehoused," Diaz said.
Manuel Cereijo, an electrical engineering professor at Florida International University who has documented the testimony of former Juragua workers, said the plant does not have properly trained workers.
"I do not believe Juragua is safe. Cuba does not have the ability to operate such a plant," he said.
U.S. government studies show prevaling weather patterns would bring radioactivity to Florida, and eventually much of the Eastern seaboard, within days of a catastrophic reactor failure at Juragua.