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Friday, March 25, 2011

Nuclear safety and energy supply in focus

In the light of the recent crises in Japan and North Africa, energy ministers on 21 March took stock of the state of play in the energy sectors and of the possible impact on the markets.At the end of the meeting, the Hungarian Presidency declared that the priority is to provide Japan and Libya with humanitarian as well as technical assistance.

Although international developments are affecting world energy markets and the EU's supplies, member states have so far been able to cope with the situation on the gas and oil markets. It is, however, necessary to keep these markets under close watch, including price developments.

As regards nuclear safety, the main concern is to ensure that the highest standards are applied. The member states are ready to launch a review of the safety of nuclear facilities through a comprehensive risk and safety assessment ("stress test") of the EU's reactors. The criteria should be defined learning the lessons from the situation in Japan so as to allow for the tests to be carried out as soon as possible.

Various assessment criteria were discussed: seismic and flood risks, the technical design and arrangements of the backup systems, the age of the power plants, the type of reactor, emergency procedures and resistance to an air plane crash or terrorist attacks.

Source  Press room - European Union Council

More information  Press room - European Union Council

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