• The nuclear power debate
  • 24.03.2011

The 14 member states of the EU which currently get some of their energy requirements from nuclear energy have agreed to “stress tests” of their atomic power plants, following the shutdown of the Fukushima power plant in Japan.

 

The issue of the EU’s nuclear future is being discussed at the summit currently on in Brussels.

 

Energy ministers from the 27 nation bloc failed to agree criteria for the tests when they met earlier this week, however.

 

A split has emerged within the EU over how to proceed with national nuclear power programmes, with Germany announcing

a three-month moratorium on extending the life of the country’s 17 nuclear power stations.

 

Poland, however, has announced that it will go ahead with its plan to build two nuclear power stations, the first to be ready by 2020 - although Prime Minister Donald Tusk muted the idea of holding a referendum on the subject yesterday.

 

For more Polish Radio coverage of the nuclear power debate see below. (pg)

 

Related stories:

Nuclear power - ‘Poland’s greatest challenge’ (audio), thenews.pl 23 March 2011

Tusk in Brussels for difficult EU summit, thenews.pl 24 March 2011

Fukushima fallout prompts nuclear referendum in Poland?thenews.pl 23 March 2011

Two-speed EU nuclear future emerges, thenews.pl 21March 2011

Poland to stick to its nulear energy plans (audio), thenews.pl 16 March 2011

Poles divided over nuclear plant, thenews.pl 15 March 2011

 

Archive:

Poland chooses nuclear plant site (audio), thenews.pl 18 March 2010

Poland named its first nuclear energy commissioner (audio), thenews.pl 21 May 2009