By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – Many, if not all of U.S. nuclear power plants have counterfeit or fraudulent parts. This can increase the likelihood of a safety problem, said the inspector general for the federal nuclear industry regulator in a Thursday report.

This report will be a setback to the U.S. nuclear industry, which has been declining in recent years because of competition from renewable energy and plants that burn. There are also lingering concerns about public safety following mishaps such as the 2011 tsunami that struck Japan’s Fukushima facility.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported that counterfeit parts were safety and security issues which could lead to serious consequences for critical power plant equipment.

According to the report, more than 100 instances of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items (CFSI), in U.S. reactors were identified by Department of Energy employees in Fiscal Year 2021.

The report said counterfeit parts discovered at reactors included an emergency service water pump shaft, temperature sensor used to determine steam line breaks and breaker switches that were meant to keep them from burning. However, the report didn’t name the reactors affected or identify their source.

In the report it was stated that NRC might also underestimate the quantity of plant counterfeit parts “because licensees are not required to report CFSI except for extraordinary circumstances like those that involve the failure of equipment performing a critical safety function.”

NRC stated that it is currently reviewing the report.

Scott Burnell, spokesperson for the NRC stated that while the report does indicate the presence of CFSI at U.S. nuclear reactors, it doesn’t suggest an immediate safety risk. “The NRC’s office of the Executive Director for Operations is thoroughly reviewing the report and will direct the agency’s program offices to take appropriate action.”

An immediate response was not provided by the Department of Energy to our request for comment.

A group representing advocacy groups said that the NRC should work harder in order to combat the issue.

Edwin Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists (non-profit group) said that this troubling report shows the NRC has to do more to prevent counterfeit parts or other dangerous defects being kept out of US nuclear power plants. He also suggested that plant owners have to be required to immediately report such issues to the NRC.

Because they emit very little greenhouse gasses, the administration of President Joe Biden believes that nuclear reactors can play an important part in decarbonizing America’s economy.

Supporters of nuclear power also stress that they don’t emit particulate pollutant pollution like fossil fuel plants, which can cause health problems.