EC proposed a mechanism to ensure nuclear power safety

The European Commission (EC) on June 13 issued a new nuclear safety regulation, which calls for a biannual inspection of nuclear power plants operating in cities. European Union (EU) member.

This is a new proposal that the organization launched after the disaster at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011.

The EU commissioner in charge of Gunther Oettinger energy said the new proposal was forwarded to EU member states and expressed hope that countries would complete the review within the next 18 months.

Fukushima nuclear power plant.(Source: thehindu.com)

Mr. Oettinger said EU countries have the right to decide whether to produce nuclear energy, but the EC wants to be safe at the top of every nuclear reactor in the region.

Under the new proposal, the inspection of existing nuclear power plants in the EU will be carried out by EU professional inspectors, instead of only regular 10-year inspections by experts. Water is implemented as current regulations.

New rules to avoid repeating the Fukushima disaster and planning for coping in case of an emergency nuclear incident.

Once this document is in effect, countries that do not comply with the nuclear safety recommendations after each inspection will be liable and subject to sanctions from the EU.

The new proposal also calls for each EU member state to own its nuclear power plant to inspect its facilities at least every 10 years and continue to work independently of the nuclear industry to avoid conflicts. benefit.

In the EU there are 64 nuclear power plants with a total of 132 reactors, located in 14 member countries. Two-thirds of these reactors are located away from towns with more than 100,000 people living about 15km.

A report released in October last year said the EU needs to upgrade safety conditions immediately in nearly all nuclear power plants in the region, with estimated costs ranging from 10 billion to 25 billion. euro (from 13-32 billion USD).