More problems at Temelin

The first block of the Temelin nuclear power plant was shut down temporarily on Friday morning after an oil leak. This was the latest in a series of minor technical problems that have emerged recently at the plant, which is currently in trial operation prior to being put fully on line next year. The plant's spokesman said that the problem was a minor hitch on the plants secondary circuit and had no influence whatsoever on the nuclear safety of Temelin. Austrian protests against the plant continue. A group of opponents to nuclear power have set up a protest camp on the Czech-Austrian border, some 50 kilometres from the plant, and plan to stay in place for a further week. A spokesman for the Upper Austria region that borders on the Czech Republic said that the problems with Temelin's turbine offer mounting evidence of serious flaws in the design.