MEPs reject Austria call for closure of Czech nuclear plant

Date: 21/06/01

THREE Euro MPs have backed the re-opening of a controversial nuclear plant in the Czech Republic despite calls by Austria for its closure.

Power company CEZ has confirmed that the Temelin power station will begin operating next month after a second environmental assessment found its impact on the surrounding population to be "insignificant, acceptable and low".

The first of the plant's two reactors, built to a Soviet design, was shut down in early May after developing a fault in one of its turbines - the latest in a string of incidents which have raised safety fears in the area.

And last week Austrian Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser, a member of the Freedom Party, insisted on Temelin's closure as a condition for supporting Prague's EU accession.

However MEPs have backed its re-opening after a fact-finding mission. UK Socialist Gordon Adam told European Voice the findings of the internationally-monitored assessment were clear. "It's given the station a clean bill of health," said Adam, who was joined on the fact-finding mission by Per-Arne Arvidsson of Sweden and Ari Vatanen of Finland. "These agreed international procedures have gone far beyond what's required. I don't think any power station in the world has gone through so many inspections as this particular plant. "

Since its completion last October, the €3-billion plant has suffered several shutdowns due to vibrations and a cracked steam pipe in the non-nuclear part of the station.

Its re-opening could see a return to the angry protests witnessed earlier this year, when Austrian demonstrators blocked the border, just 50 kilometres away. There is also opposition to the Temelin power station from within the Czech Republic.

Three MEPs have backed the re-opening of a controversial nuclear plant in the Czech Republic despite calls by Austria for its closure.