According to the latest results of the Phare geo physical and
geological research in the area of the Krsko-based nuclear power
plant, the Krsko basin is not a tectonic dike which faults on the
north and south side, but a dish-like structure with some minor joints
which do not cut through the newer geological layers. The research
discovers no active joints in the NEK area that could cause
earth-quakes and affect the NEK project earthquake parameters
calculations.
The research of the NEK location has been financed with 700.000
euros from the Phare programme by the EU Commission. Foreign and
Slovene experts presented the results to numerous attendees of the
presentation from Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Hungary, France, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Spain and representatives of the European
Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
So far, several theories have existed about the Krsko
basin. According to one of them the basin was supposed to be a
tectonic dike with two long faults on the north and the south of the
basin. The latest research proved this to be false, as the Krsko basin
is more like a hollow. These results refuted two of the three theories
on potential faults given by three groups of geologists working on a
probability safety analysis. The area will continue to be
monitored. The plant is in the process of revising the final safety
report, which will contain these latest data.
The issues of ownership still open
Despite intense negotiations between Croatia and Slovenia a
successful solution has yet to be found to the issues of ownership and
management of the nuclear power plant and payment for electrical power
already supplied. The major issue for Croatia is the decree on
ownership. If both sides were able to successfully overcome the
differences they have regarding this decree it would be possible to
begin solving other matters. For example, if Croatia began receiving
electrical power from the nuclear power plant again the issues of
Croatian debts from the past would in that way be settled.
The Slovenian government adopted the Decree on the transformation
of the nuclear power plant into a public company and thus since 1
August 1998 the plant has not been a state-owned company. Until
Croatia and Slovenia enter into an international agreement the
Slovenian government shall implement the founding rights in line with
the decree, as founder. The Croatian state (power sector) shall have
the status of coinvestor, due to the funds it has invested in the
nuclear power plant. According to that decree the nuclear power plant
is not bound to supply electricity to Slovenian or Croatian power
supply companies if the debts of the consumer exceed the value of
electricity delivered to it in a two month period. According to
Slovenian calculations, which are not accepted by Croatia, Croatia
owes Slovenia SIT 2.4 billion. Due to outstanding arrears the ELES
notified the Croatian side that it must reduce its consumption from
300 to 15 megawatts. As this did not happen, two of the eight power
supply cables were switched off and Croatia's electricity supply from
Krsko was stopped. Despite reports that Croatia would, last year or at
the start of this year, begin to buy electrical power from the nuclear
power plant once more, this has not happened. Therefore in the latter
half of July Minister for Economic Affairs, Joze Zagozen, agreed that
with the head of the group negotiating the preparation of an
international agreement on the Krsko nuclear power planthe he will
prepare new proposals for continued negotiations with Croatia.
The level of nuclear safety - completely comparable with Western European standards
The EC Commission which, through the EURATOM agreement, has
competence in the areas of radiation protection, the protection of
nuclear material, the ownership of all nuclear material in the EU and
inspections of nuclear fuel imports, has a thorough overview of the
level of nuclear safety in Slovenia. The safety level at Krsko nuclear
power plant has been inspected on many occasions by the Nuclear Safety
Administration of the Republic of Slovenia and by different
international commissions. They have evaluated the level of nuclear
safety at Krsko as being completely comparable with Western European
standards. In the report by the Senior Advisors on Nuclear Safety in
Central and Eastern Europe, Slovenia was assessed as unproblematic in
the area of nuclear safety. In their report the advisors emphasised
that the Krsko nuclear power plant was built under US licence and that
the safety of the plant compares well with nuclear power plants
operating in Western Europe. The plant has a permanent programme of
improvements and upgrading. The Convention on Nuclear Safety - the
only internationally recognised safety convention - has been ratified
by 50 countries including the EU members and Slovenia. At the first
meeting of signatories in Vienna in May of this year Slovenia
successfully presented its national safety report. Safety at the Krsko
nuclear power plant was not in question at that meeting. Regardless of
the favourable official assessments additional soil testing has been
carried out in Krsko Polje since 1994. Last year saw the completion of
an additional programme of seismological safety to a range of 40km. It
was financed by the EU as part of the Phare programme. An
investigation by international institutes will be completed in its
entirety at the end of this year and next year EU experts will analyse
every study made to date. Geologically speaking Krsko Polje is the
most thoroughly studied area of Slovenia. Geological analyses show
that the power plant is suitably planned which is confirmed by
international inspections. These findings refute the groundless
pressure of the Austrian Freedom Party for Slovenian accession to the
EU to be conditional on the seismic safety of the nuclear power plant.
Two new steam generators
On 6 September 2000 a year passed since two steam generators, which
do not contain radioactive substances, were brought from the port of
Koper. The two new generators form part of this year's modernisation
programme for the Krsko nuclear power plant which is focused on safety
and will ensure that the plant has the highest safety levels in
Europe. The entire modernisation project cost DEM 205 million. The
modernisation programme has increased production, reduced generator
overhaul time, increased overall efficiency and reduced unplanned
costs and shutdowns. The new generators will enable a 6% increase in
the power plant's capacity. These two new generators have allowed the
nuclear power plant to reach the following targets: it has stabilised
operation to the end of its anticipated lifespan, increased its
operability to over 85% and shortened the length of the annual refit
to around 35 days, increased operational safety with a reduction in
the risks of radioactive discharges into the atmosphere and reduced
the number of unplanned shutdowns. The new reactors were produced by
US company, Westinghouse. The technology is entirely American and
complies with US standards.