euro|topics - Nuclear safety in question

02/12/2008

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Main focus of Wednesday, August 9, 2006

Nuclear safety in question

Two scares in quick succession have recently occurred in the nuclear power plants of Forsmark in Sweden and Temelin in the Czech Republic. Both incidents reminded Europeans of the Chernobyl disaster and the risks inherent in nuclear technology, one of Europe's chief energy sources.

Le Figaro - France

"Western Europeans countries used to worry primarily about the antiquity of Eastern Europe's nuclear reactors. But since the fall of the iron curtain power stations in former Eastern bloc countries have been modernised and upgraded to EU safety standards thanks to the know-how of Western contractors. In the 1990s the American company Westinghouse undertook the renovation of the Soviet-designed WER 100 pressurized water reactors at the Temelin plant, adding, for example, complete physical containment. That has not, however, prevented the Temelin plant in South Bohemia [Czech Republic] from showing a 'serious failing'," writes Maurin Picard. And in the wake of the incident at the end of July at Sweden's Forsmark plant "the European nuclear safety debate is once again an issue." (09/08/2006)

Der Standard - Austria

Alexandra Föderl-Schmid says it's no coincidence that two serious incidents at European nuclear power stations occurred on the same day. "At Sweden's Forsmark power station central safety systems failed. One expert referred to this as the most serious incident since Chernobyl. This effectively silences claims that serious accident couldn't occur at a Western nuclear power station. At almost the same time several thousand litres of radioactive water leaked from the Czech Republic's Temelin power station, which is just a few dozen kilometres away from the Austrian border. Only shortly beforehand a reactor block had been shut down because of a leaking oil pipe. Both incidents are a signal and will reignite the discussion about using nuclear power in Europe. This is a good thing, because it was just looking very much like the use of this source of energy would increase on the continent." (09/08/2006)

Frankfurter Rundschau - Germany

Vera Gaserow welcomes the decision of the German Minister for the Environment to order safety checks at Germany nuclear power stations following the Swedish incident. "Maybe the minister is using the threatening scenario as a political weapon in the revived debate about a renaissance of nuclear power. But by adopting a strict position on the issue of safety at nuclear power stations he can remind advocates of nuclear power of their weak point. The government had reached a moratorium with power companies: You accept a gradual withdrawal from the nuclear programme and we'll make sure the power stations can continue to operate smoothly. Necessary but expensive measures for retrofitting the stations have been handled with kid gloves or postponed. The operators of nuclear power stations had started to say goodbye to the withdrawal agreement. Now, following what was almost a serious accident, politicians have the opportunity to make it clear that they too can have their way in the debate about the safety of nuclear power." (09/08/2006)

» To the complete press review of Wednesday, August 9, 2006

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