EU NPPs to be subject to a 3-stage inspection

A total of 143 EU NPPs will be subjected to a 3-stage inspection to be launched on June 1, announced yesterday in Brussels EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger. He explained that the first tests will be carried out by the operators of facilities and, afterwards, their reports will be reviewed by the national nuclear regulators. The final third-stage check will be related to the security inspection of facilities by experts from the EU member-states.

Oettinger appealed to the neighbouring countries of the EU to join the initiative aimed at checking the status of EU NPPs after the crash at the Japanese Fukushima NPP, reported BTA (Bulgarian Telegraph Agency).
We reckoned that, against the background of events in Japan, we should take into consideration all unexpected consequences for the operation of NPPs as a result of any natural disasters. Besides, we should assess potential risks for the newly constructed nuclear power plants, specified the EU Energy Commissioner. He pointed out that testing for resistance to earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, cold, heat has also been provided for. The overall effect of these natural events on the plants' security will be assessed on an individual and general basis. Inspections have also been scheduled for the applied nuclear technologies in NPPs, as well as for the equipment for cooling the reactors.

The Kozloduy NPP has already launched the stress tests, which should be completed in June as scheduled. If necessary, further inspections will be carried out in compliance with EU nuclear power safety standards, said a week ago Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov. By the year's end, the final results of the NPP's inspections are expected to become clear. Besides, Brussels is expected to issue an opinion on the matter. In our country, the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency will examine the technical documentation for the construction of the Belene NPP and the final results from its stress tests.

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