Slovenian nuclear plant forced to shut down

A reactor has been turned off for repairs at the Krsko nuclear plant in Slovenia. Authorities claim that the situation is under control, but the European Commission (EC) has notified EU member-states of the problem. Slovenian nuclear plant forced to shut down Water started leaking from the primary system at about 15:00 CET yesterday, after which the nuclear plant was systematically shut down. At about 20:00 CET, the Krsko reactor was shut down for the first time in 15 years. Plant officials claim that everything is under control and that there have been no spills in the area, adding that there has been no damage to atomic fuel either. Staff at the plant have already uncovered the problem, and the Slovenian Directorate for Atomic Security has stated that repairs have begun and will take several days. A special team of Slovenian experts are monitoring the plant’s closure, and have stated that they do not expect any further deterioration of the current situation. The Directorate has also denied insinuations that people living in Krsko have been forced to move away. It adds that there is no need to implement protective measures, and that the problem has not affected any of the workers, citizens or environment. Slovenia immediately informed the EC of the problem, which, in turn, notified all EU member-states. The EC gave a statement last night saying that the malfunction had not had any detectable detrimental effects on the environment. The EC will monitor the situation closely until everything returns to normal. During that time, all EU member-states must, in the defined intervals, report to the EC on measures they are taking and on radioactivity levels. News of the plant malfunction was picked up by almost all European media. Following the statement regarding the problem sent by the EC, the Italian Agency for Environmental Protection activated its sector, while the Italian Environment Ministry activated its operative sector, distributing a license for the use of special, high technology for observation purposes. For now, Italy is only closely observing developments, and the head of the Italian atomic energy sector, Roberto Mezzanotte, says that there is no reason to take action in Italy for accidents that occur in countries close to the Italian border. Italian media state that the German government has also activated its own authorities to look into the situation, while Germany’s branch of Greenpeace has expressed its concern over the situation at Krsko.

Slovenian nuclear plant forced to shut down

Water started leaking from the primary system at about 15:00 CET yesterday, after which the nuclear plant was systematically shut down. At about 20:00 CET, the Krško reactor was shut down for the first time in 15 years.

Plant officials claim that everything is under control and that there have been no spills in the area, adding that there has been no damage to atomic fuel either.

Staff at the plant have already uncovered the problem, and the Slovenian Directorate for Atomic Security has stated that repairs have begun and will take several days.

A special team of Slovenian experts are monitoring the plant’s closure, and have stated that they do not expect any further deterioration of the current situation.

The Directorate has also denied insinuations that people living in Krško have been forced to move away.

It adds that there is no need to implement protective measures, and that the problem has not affected any of the workers, citizens or environment.

Slovenia immediately informed the EC of the problem, which, in turn, notified all EU member-states.

The EC gave a statement last night saying that the malfunction had not had any detectable detrimental effects on the environment.

The EC will monitor the situation closely until everything returns to normal.

During that time, all EU member-states must, in the defined intervals, report to the EC on measures they are taking and on radioactivity levels.

News of the plant malfunction was picked up by almost all European media.

Following the statement regarding the problem sent by the EC, the Italian Agency for Environmental Protection activated its sector, while the Italian Environment Ministry activated its operative sector, distributing a license for the use of special, high technology for observation purposes.

For now, Italy is only closely observing developments, and the head of the Italian atomic energy sector, Roberto Mezzanotte, says that there is no reason to take action in Italy for accidents that occur in countries close to the Italian border.

Italian media state that the German government has also activated its own authorities to look into the situation, while Germany’s branch of Greenpeace has expressed its concern over the situation at Krško.