![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]()
Stockholm, Aug 4, 2006 Sweden's nuclear authority said on Friday it would not close down any more nuclear power stations, after problems forced a halt to operations at four of the country's 10 reactors. Sweden's nuclear energy capacity was cut to half after authorities shut down five of the country's reactors, four of them in connection with a potentially dangerous failure caused by an electricity blackout at a nuclear power plant last week. The fifth reactor has been closed down for routine maintenance. The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) said Friday it was satisfied that the remaining five reactors still in operation were not affected by the same problem that led to a blackout at the Forsmark nuclear power station on the east coast, amid allegations that a potentially catastrophic reactor meltdown had been avoided by sheer luck. "We will allow the reactors that are running to continue running," SKI spokesman Anders Bredfell told AFP. No decision had been taken about the reactors that were not currently operating, he said. "We will take the time we need to make sure that safety comes first," he said. SKI told AFP it was treating the Forsmark blackout as a level two incident on a scale from zero to seven. Sweden has shut two of its original 12 nuclear reactors since 1999 as part of a plan to phase out nuclear power over the next 30 or so years, or when the reactors' lifespan expires. Nuclear power accounts for nearly half of Sweden's electricity production. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links
![]() ![]() Some 3,000 protesters rallied in Sydney on Sunday to mark the 61st anniversary of the world's first atomic attack, calling for a nuclear-free world and peace in the Middle East. |
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |