Czechs reject new demands to delay Temelin launch
Date: 05-Oct-00
Country: CZECH REPUBLIC
A group of Austrian deputies visited the controversial Soviet-designed power station yesterday but failed to convince the company and Czech members of parliament that the startup should be delayed until an environmental impact assessment study is done.
Eva Glawischnig, deputy head of the environment committee of the Austrian parliament, told a news conference that the visit could not clear Austria's doubts about the power station.
"Our doubts were not cleared. We are calling on the Czech side to postpone the launch of Temelin," she said.
But the plant's spokesman Milan Nebesar said the startup would go ahead as planned if Czech regulatory authorities issue relevant permissions.
Glawischnig added that the Austrian delegation was also disappointed that CEZ had proceeded with testing of Temelin's 1,000 megawatt reactor early yesterday, which made it impossible for the Austrians to inspect the plant's containment area.
The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world's nuclear watchdog, said earlier yesterday it would inspect Temelin in February.