Safety standards at nuclear power stations in countries hoping to join the European Union are still not up to Western standards, according to a report published by the Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association (WENRA). Safety at NPPs is a key issue for countries such as Lithuania, Hungary and the Czech Republic, hoping to join the EU in the next wave.
WENRA concluded that Ignalina in Lithuania, which supplies 80% of the country’s electricity, suffers from inherent design flaws which cannot be realistically rectified. In the Czech republic WENRA believes that Dukovany should meet Western safety criteria, but is doubtful about Temelin; WENRA criticises the Czechs for not providing detailed information.
Hungary is in a better position, with WENRA concluding that it should be able to meet the necessary safety targets.
