Nuclear Safety: Concerns with the Nuclear Power Reactors in Cuba
(Testimony, 08/01/95, GAO/T-RCED-95-236).

It is uncertain if an when Cuba's nuclear power reactors will be
operational. It appears that no progress has been made on the
construction of the reactors since GAO issued its last report on this
subject (GAO/RCED-92-262, Sept. 1992).  The civil construction, such as
floors and walls, of the first reactor is estimated to be more than 90
percent complete, while the second reactor is only between 20 to 30
percent complete.  However, if Cuba obtains the assistance necessary to
finish building the reactors, several concerns must be resolved. These
include the quality of the civil construction completed so far, the lack
of a regulatory organization, and the adequacy of operator training.
Although the reactor will have a containment building and an emergency
core-cooling system, which lessens the likelihood of a radiation escape
during an accident, the containment dome was not designed to withstand
pressures as great as U.S. containment structures can withstand.  GAO
concludes that continued monitoring of Cuba's progress toward completing
the reactors is warranted.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-95-236
     TITLE:  Nuclear Safety: Concerns with the Nuclear Power Reactors in 
             Cuba
      DATE:  08/01/95
   SUBJECT:  Nuclear powerplant construction
             Nuclear powerplant safety
             Foreign governments
             Nuclear proliferation
             Nuclear reactors
             International relations
             Treaties
             Radiation accidents
             Human resources training
IDENTIFIER:  Cuba
             Soviet Union
             Russia
             Cienfuegos (Cuba)
             
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