Sobotka: Blockades at border crossings over Temelin unacceptable

Senate Chairman Premysl Sobotka has condemned the blockades of Czech-Austrian border crossings by Austrian anti-nuclear protesters. He said the blockades were a step against the abolition of borders within the European Union and an effort to build new barriers. Mr Sobotka added that the blockades amounted to unacceptable pressure whose impact is unrelated to the issue of nuclear safety at the Temelin power station in South Bohemia. Mr Sobotka also said in a statement that these acts were happening with the consent of the Austrian authorities.

Meanwhile, the first unit of the Temelin nuclear power plant had to be closed down on Thursday due to a fault in the cooling system. The second unit remains in operation. It is the second time this week that the reactor had to be closed down due to a technical fault.