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EU ministers make nuclear safety rules binding
Luxembourg (AFP) June 25, 2009 EU environment ministers on Thursday agreed to make international safety rules on nuclear power stations legally binding, a move which Brussels hailed as a model for the rest of the world. While the EU becomes the "first major regional nuclear actor" to make the rules binding, a European Commission spokesman said that safety standards in Europe were already high. The decision makes binding "international safety standards that exist currently only on a voluntary basis," said commission spokesman Ferran Tarradellas Espuny in Brussels. Nevertheless the systems used in Europe vary, with Lithuania's Ignalina plant, for example, built to the same design as Ukraine's infamous Chernobyl power station. Slovenia's sole nuclear power plant had to be shut down a year ago after a leak in the cooling system that set off a Europe-wide alert. As the first big regional player to make the safety rules binding, the European Union is "a real model for the rest of the world in a context of renewed interest in nuclear energy," the commission said. The ministers meeting in Luxembourg formally endorsed the proposal which has ready been backed by the European parliament. "This Nuclear Safety Directive brings legal certainty by clarifying responsibilities and provides increased guarantees to the public," said EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. "It sets binding principles for enhancing nuclear safety to protect workers and the general public, as well as the environment. Continuous development of nuclear safety is a responsibility not just for Europe, but for the world; not simply for us but also for coming generations," he added. The rules will apply to both new and existing nuclear plants. The EU has the largest number of nuclear power plants in the world, with France foremost, though member states are free to decide whether or not to produce nuclear energy. The directive requires EU nations in particular to set up and continuously improve national nuclear safety frameworks. It also enhances the role and independence of national regulatory authorities and requires a high level of transparency of regulatory actions and guarantees regular independent safety assessments. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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German nuclear plant back online after fireBerlin (AFP) June 24, 2009 A German atomic power plant at the centre of a national outcry over nuclear safety has reopened after a fire broke out there two years ago, its operator said Wednesday. Swedish energy giant Vattenfall said its Kruemmel plant in northern Germany, which produces about 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, was back online after maintenance work and modernisation of its facilities. ... read more |
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