Brussels, 24/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The nuclear stress tests being carried out on nuclear power plants in the European Union to see how they would survive human error, natural disaster and terrorist attacks that started on 1 June 2011 are continuing. After a report on 31 October from nuclear power plant operators, the nuclear energy authorities of the member states are expected to issue their own report at the end of the year. Following a peer review (experts from other member states and the European Commission), a final report will be sent to the European Council by the European Commission in June 2012.
Following the nuclear disaster in Fukushima (Japan) after a tsunami and an earthquake, the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) and the European Commission agreed on voluntary tests for all of all 143 nuclear power plants in operation in 14 EU member states. The Commission says the testing is on track in a progress report published on 24 November. The department of EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger explained on Thursday that the tests were on schedule, nuclear power station operators had sent in a progress report on 15 August and national nuclear safety authorities on 15 September. The operators issued their final reports on 15 October, and national safety authorities are due to publish their own final findings on 31 December. The member states that use nuclear power - Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, Finland, Hungary, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Romania, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Sweden, Slovenia and Lithuania (the latter is decommissioning the last section of the Ignalina nuclear power station) - will then be reviewed by their peers (experts from other member states) and a European Commission representative. The European Commission will send the final results to European political leaders at the meeting in Brussels in June 2012.
The prevention of dangers like terrorism and disaster reaction plans are also being assessed by experts monitored by the Council of the EU, and a report on progress by the ad hoc Council nuclear safety group attached to the Commission's report says that the member states are prepared to go further and play a full part in international safety mechanisms.
The Commission is already learning the first lessons of the stress tests and points out in a report where further action is needed. It says new EU nuclear safety regulations may be introduced on the choice of sites, the design, construction and running of nuclear power stations, and independent nuclear safety authorities to issue permits and carry out inspections on site. The European Commission recommends greater coordination among member states to draw up cross-border nuclear disaster management plans to prepare for disasters and arrange how to cope with them. It also suggests a joint EU approach to nuclear liability to provide the same level of compensation to victims no matter where they live. The Commission suggests that EU nuclear research should also look at safety, which is doesn't at present. (EH/transl.fl)