The Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) was a government body responsible for electricity generation in England and Wales for almost forty years, from 1957 to privatisation in the 1990s.
“CEGB Power News’ was a quarterly staff newspaper published and distributed by the CEGB among its employees. Many newspapers and tabloids at the time printed unconfirmed rumours about the disaster and what today would be described as click baits to sell more copies. This report however was well researched and prepared for engineers and experts working for the energy industry, so I find this publication on the Chernobyl Accident quite unique a x interesting. It wasn’t the easiest to obtain but it’s certainly one of my favourite items in my collection.
It features a detailed timeline of events and well-balanced analysis of the technological differences between the Soviet RBMK-1000 design and inherently much safer nuclear reactors used West of the Iron Curtain.
Quoting the paper: This special issue of Power News has been produced to let CEGB staff and other readers know about the causes and consequences of the accident which destroyed the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in the Soviet Union on April 26. The information is taken from the reports provided by the Russian scientists to the Vienna conference organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Click on the image below to start!
I watched the movie Salyut 7 on Amazon prime and it really showcases the cavalier culture and attitude the Russians have towards safety. I used to wonder what the Americans had against the Russians, but I kind of see it now. Unfortunately, Chernobyl was the ultimate mistake.