BRATISLAVA, September 14, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovak nuclear power plants have passed the so-called stress tests for now. “The stress tests have not identified any deficiencies that would require immediate remedial measures or a shutdown of operating nuclear power plants. Response of tested power plants to the stress tests corresponds with the required security level,” stated the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (UJD) in the interim national report that will be submitted to the European Commission. “Despite the positive stress tests results, we expect implementation of improvements in Slovak nuclear power plants will continue in the future,” said head of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (UJD) Miriam Ziakova.
Stress tests analyzed extraordinary external events such as an earthquake, floods and consequences of other initiatory events leading to multifold loss off safety functions of a power plant and their combination. “Power plant’s ability were examined to cope with power feeding failure above the extent of the original project, namely a long-term failure in water supply as well as disruption of electricity feeding due to extreme climatic conditions,” added the office.
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority elaborated the interim national report based on information provided by the operator of nuclear power plants Slovenske Elektrarne, a.s. (SE). Slovenske Elektrarne currently operates two nuclear power units in the V2 Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant and two nuclear power units of the Mochovce nuclear power plant. The third and fourth unit of the Mochovce NPP, which is currently under construction, has also passed the stress tests. “The stress tests are to evaluate security reserves of nuclear power plants and possibilities of their further improvement that are way above the frame of requirements of nuclear power plants already in operation and those under construction,“ stated the regulatory authority.
The so-called stress tests carried out on Slovak nuclear power plants are progressed according to schedule set by the European Commission and the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group. UJD should present the final national report on the stress tests carried out on the Slovak nuclear power plants by the end of the year. “We can assume based on course of the conducted stress tests that the testing and processing of the final report will be wound up within the expected schedule,” concluded the authority.
European nuclear regulatory authorities have agreed on the final version of stress tests on nuclear reactors in the EU with the aim to prevent the critical situation experienced by Japan after the March earthquake and tsunami. EU countries agreed at the end of May that all nuclear power plants on the territory of the European Community will undergo stress tests.
SITA
