John H. Large is an independent nuclear engineer and analyst primarily known for his work in assessing and reporting upon nuclear safety and nuclear related accidents and incidents.[1] From the mid-1960s until 1986 Large was an academic in Brunel University's School of Engineering, where he undertook research for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.
As a Consulting Engineer with Large & Associates [1], Large led the nuclear risk assessment team for the raising of the damaged Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which assessed the nuclear hazards and defined the limits and conditions under which the lift and recovery of the submarine in 2001 took place.[2] Also, he advised the Government of Gibraltar on nuclear safety aspects of the repairs being undertaken to the nuclear propulsion reactor on board HMS Tireless throughout 2000,[3] and he investigated the adequacy of emergency planning in the event of a nuclear powered submarine radiation incident whilst berthed in the UK port of Southampton.[4] and update review following the retrieval of classified documents relating to the risks and hazards of nuclear powered submarines berthing at Southampton and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.[5]
Large has been critical of the nuclear power industry, and is often commissioned by Greenpeace to provide technical analysis on nuclear issues.[6][7][8] In 2003 a paper Large submitted for publication to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers about the danger of a terrorist attack on UK nuclear installations was suppressed on the advice of the UK government.[9]
In March 2011, he appeared on Al Jazeera English, Sky News, Channel 4 and BBC News[10][11] and ITN[12] giving his assessment that the Fukushima Dai-ichi reactor containment had been compromised in the hydrogen explosions, leading to a dangerous release of radiation. This contradicted information released both by the operators and by the Japanese Government. On 23 March 2011 John Large appeared at the ALDE Group Open Hearing at the European Parliament with an Intervention[13] that strongly challenged the proposals of the European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger to review the European Community nuclear safety requirements following the radiological incidents at Fukushima.
Large has been invited by the Chief Nuclear Inspector of UK Office for Nuclear Regulation to join the Technical Advisory Panel working on the ONR's assessment of the implications for the UK nuclear Industry of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident, although following failure to negotiate terms and conditions for the appointment he opted out of the appointment.[14] Instead, instructed by Greenpeace Germany and Greenpeace France, Large prepared a critical review of the preliminary report of the IAEA Fact Finding Mission undertaken to Fukushima Dai-ichi in May 2011.[14][14]
Large is frequently interviewed or quoted in the media.[15][16]