Czech nuclear office says to clear Temelin loading

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Czech nuclear office says to clear Temelin loading
  
PRAGUE, July 4 (Reuters) - The Czech State Nuclear Safety 
Office (SUJB) said on Tuesday it would issue approval this week for 
fuel loading at the first unit of a controversial nuclear power plant 
Temelin near Austrian borders. 

``In the nearest time we will issue agreement with the launch of the 
phase of active tests... it will be within two days,'' spokesman 
Pavel Pittermann told Reuters. 

The plant's owner CEZ a.s. aimed to load the first out of two 
Russian-designed 1,000 megawatt units in August, and begin 
commercial operation in May next year. 

CEZ spokesman Ladislav Kriz told Reuters CEZ was ready to 
begin loading fuel ``within hours'' after it receives permission. 

But he said the company would then need another key 
authorisation to activate the fuel, which should come about a 
month after loading. 

Kriz said it was impossible to say at the moment whether an 
earlier loading would speed up the beginning of commercial 
operation. 

The plant has been opposed by environmental groups and the 
Austrian government. 
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html