Part of Temelin nuclear plant shut down due to leak

A leaking turbine pipe forced technicians to shut down part of the controversial Temelin nuclear power plant on Monday morning. The shutdown of the first reactor came just two days after the second reactor, crippled by a leak-related shutdown earlier this month, was restarted and connected to the national power grid. Since October 2000, the twin-reactor plant, about 60 kilometres north of the Czech-Austrian border, has suffered numerous technical problems. Opponents to Temelin in neighbouring Austria and Germany have pressed the Czech government to shut down the plant because it combines Soviet-era design and western operating technology, but the Czech energy company CEZ insists the plant is safe and hopes to have both units operating fully by spring.