BRATISLAVA, August 12, (WEBNOVINY) –The so-called stress tests carried out on Slovak nuclear power plants are progressing according to the schedule. The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (UJD) expects a preliminary report on tests‘ results from the operator of nuclear power plants next week. “We will have one month to assess the presented report and subsequently issue our own report on the stress tests. This procedure will be repeated at the end of 2011 resulting in a final report that will be submitted to the European Commission,” UJD specified the upcoming course of action. The European report on the outcome of the stress tests should be drawn up in the spring of 2012.
Stress tests in Slovakia were launched on June 1 in accordance with the agreement of the European Commission and the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG). Testing of Slovakia’s nuclear power plants currently in progress in nuclear power plants operated by Slovakia’s dominant power producer Slovenske Elektrarne, a.s. is mostly carried out in form of engineering analysis, calculations and assessments. The report detailing stress tests’ results will analyze extraordinary external events like earthquake, floods and consequences of other initiatory events leading to multifold loss safety functions of a power plant and their combination. “Power plant’s ability 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 stress tests do not comprise prevention and coping with consequences of intentional plane crash on a power plant. “For the assessment of physical nuclear safety, which comprises assessment of the terrorist attack threat, a special work group that will deal with this problem, has been established. The group will assess its findings in a report on nuclear safety of nuclear power plants, which will also be available to public,” concluded the office.
Operation of Slovak nuclear power plants was safe and reliable last year, according to regulatory authority’s report. “Based on results of audit and assessment activities, operation of nuclear facilities in Slovakia can be assessed as safe and reliable without serious events that would lead to issuance of order for reduced production or shutdown of a reactor and halting operation of the power plant,” stated the Nuclear Regulatory Authority in its report. Altogether, four nuclear power units in the V2 Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant and Mochovce nuclear power plant are currently operated in Slovakia. The third and fourth units of the Mochovce NPP have yet to be completed.
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
