Czech reactor phase-in back on track

Plant spokesman Milan Nebesar said in reponse to a query that the unexpected shutdown, which is being investigated by state regulators, did not alter Temelin's phase-in schedule. He said the reactor restarted "immediately."

"It was nothing serious, nothing dangerous," Nebesar said. "This happens during tests." However, anti-nuclear groups in Austria and Germany used the Saturday morning incident as fodder for their continuing battle against the plant.

Greenpeace, for example, blasted the Czech Republic for proceeding with the power phase-in despite what appeared to be serious flaws with Temelin's safety system, noting there were two mishaps last summer before the reactor's initial start-up six weeks ago.

Although two months of Vienna-sanctioned, anti-nuclear blockades along the Czech-Austrian border ended recently, Vienna has not softened its stance. The Bavarian government has condemned the Czechs' handling of Temelin as well. Starting Monday, the German environment ministry is asking the public to view and comment on Temelin-related documents on its Internet site.

The Czech government, and the plant's state-owned power company CEZ, insist Temelin is safe and accuse the Austrians of violating international agreements by allowing the blockades. Nebesar said Czech officals notified Austrian authorities immediately after the reactor shutdown, complying with a recent agreement between the two governments for a nuclear "hotine" between Prague and Vienna.

The shutdown occurred during a test of the coolant system, Nebesar said. Plant technicians were running a test that involved cooling the reactor "with normal circulation and without the main circulation pumps," he said. During the test, he said, the safety system automatically shut down the reactor.

The incident is being investigated by the State Nuclear Safety Authority. However, Nebesar said the probe would not affect current operations at the plant, which has government permission to increase power to 12 per cent.

The three-billion-dollar Temelin plant has stirred controversy because it combines a Soviet-era design and American-made safety system. It's also near the Czech border with Austrian and Bavaria. The first of the plant's two reactors is scheduled to go on the grid in spring.

(la/dpa)