Temelin Block 2 starts loading with fuel

The Czech Office for Nuclear Safety has given a go-ahead for loading nuclear fuel into the second reactor of the controversial Temelin nuclear power plant in South Bohemia, near the Czech-Austrian border.

Now that the fuel-loading permission has been granted by the State Office for Nuclear Safety, plant spokesman Milan Nebesar said the twin-reactor plant is on track to be fully operating in less than 10 months. The loading of block No. 2 is expected to take up to 10 days. Fission reaction in the unit will begin in about 1 month, following approval from the nuclear safety authority. The start-up would be followed by a series of tests that should end in autumn.

Despite anti-Temelin protests in Austria and Germany, Temelin's first reactor was launched in October 2000. The protests and tests have continued ever since. Opponents fear the plant is dangerous mainly because of its untested combination of Soviet and Western technology.

But the Czech government, which owns the plant's utility-operator CEZ, insists the 3 billion dollar facility is safe. CEZ and the government have responded to protests by implementing extra safety precautions and consulting international experts.