Czech Foreign Ministry sends Temelin report to Vienna

The Czech Republic has met the Austrian government's demand for a report on the Temelin nuclear power station evaluating the option of mothballing the plant. The possibility of a permanent shutdown was raised last week during talks between Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan and Austrian Environment Minister Wilhelm Molterer. At Vienna's urging Prague agreed to add the "shutdown alternative" to a previously completed environment impact report on Temelin. "We have done more than necessary" a Czech foreign ministry spokesman told journalists, adding that "nothing would change" as regards the Czech government's plan to put Temelin into commercial operation as soon as the Nuclear Safety Agency gives its final approval.