Tank ruptures at Russian uranium plant, one dead

Radiation levels at the Ural Electrochemical Plant and the surrounding area are normal and the incident poses no threat to people living in the area, according to a statement from Rosatom, Reuters reported.

"We are deeply saddened to announce the tragic incident at the Ural Electrochemical Plant, which resulted in the death of one employee," Rosatom said.

Inside the Ural Electrochemical Plant

The company said the worker, a technician, died from “mechanical trauma” after a container containing uranium hexafluoride, a chemical compound used in the uranium enrichment process, ruptured.

Rosatom, which owns the plant, said the depleted form of the compound is less radioactive than natural uranium. Other employees were taken for medical examination and most were released after undergoing decontamination procedures, the company said.

"There is no danger of any kind to residents of Novouralsk or the plant's employees," said Yuri Mineyev, the plant's deputy production director.

The plant enriches uranium for use in nuclear power plants and is the largest of its kind in the world . The cause of the incident is under investigation.

The US still spends billions of dollars buying uranium from Russia.

The Ural Electrochemical Plant produces half of Russia's enriched uranium, as well as 20% of the world's enriched uranium. More than 80% of the plant's output is exported, according to The Moscow Times .

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