Leak found in nuclear reactor

One of two reactors at the San Onofre nuclear power station in Southern California was shut down on Tuesday after a small leak was detected in a steam generator tube.

The incident posed no risk to the public or workers, the facility operator said.

The reactor unit, which provides 1,100 megawatts of electricity, was shut down at about 5.30pm as a precaution and will remain offline for a least a couple of days, said a spokesman for Southern California Edison.

The plant’s only other reactor had already been deactivated for scheduled refueling and technology upgrade.

The two reactors together produce enough electricity to serve 1.4 million households.