Europe's Nuclear Stress Test Details Due Next Week

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Europe's nuclear power plant operators are in a state of high alert after the European Union (E.U.) revealed that details of the proposed stress tests on nuclear plants will be published next week.

The stress tests were announced in late March, following the explosions and subsequent radiation leaks in early March at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan, following a massive earthquake and tsunami. For additional information, see March 29, 2011, article - Europe's Nuclear Reactors Face 'Stress Tests'.

At an informal meeting of E.U. energy ministers in Hungary this week, European Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, revealed that a draft for the new stress tests will be published next week, and according to the Hungarian government's website, the actual tests could begin as soon as next month.

"We are well under way, and I'm sure there will be a strong draft for the stress tests," Oettinger said. "In the light of Japan, we need to guard against earthquakes, tsunamis and so on."

He would not, however, confirm whether or not the stress tests will include tests for man-made threats, including terrorist attacks and planes being crashed into reactors. Plane crash tests "is an open issue," he stated, claiming it would be examined. Many believe the tests will stick to tests for natural threats, including earthquakes and tsunamis, only, which has sparked a vigorous response from non-nuclear countries bordering those with nuclear plants. Nuclear opponents have also claimed that the nuclear tests should not be left in the hands of the nuclear operators.

Nuclear energy companies have so far supported the notion of stress tests, as long as there's no effort to include plane crash scenarios since it would most likely mean the closure for many of their oldest nuclear plants. It remains to be seen how much cooperation energy companies will commit to once the tests are finalised. The results from stress testing are due for publication in December.

The political fallout from Fukushima has largely derailed the resurgence of nuclear power in Europe, at least temporarily. Germany ordered its seven oldest reactors closed for a three month period following the disaster, but it seems unlikely that they will ever reopen. For additional information, see March 28, 2011, article - German Nuclear Plants Begin Shutdowns.

The long-term futures of the other 10 plants are also unclear as the German government has made clear that it wants a faster a exit from nuclear power. Other countries, including Italy and Switzerland, have also put a hold on their nuclear plans.

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