"Nuclear operators should bear €25 billion cost of making Europe's reactors safer"

Nuclear operators, not taxpayers, should cover the costs of necessary safety upgrades as well as pay for everything they are liable for in the event of a nuclear accident, according to a draft resolution to be debated by MEPs in plenary on 11 March and voted on 14 March. Improving Europe's nuclear power plants so that they can withstand a natural disaster is estimated to cost up to €25 billion.

The fallout from Chernobyl

Threat to the public


Nuclear energy accidents, whether caused by human error or an earthquake, pose a severe risk to public health. The consequences from the explosion in the Chernobyl plant in 1986, the world's worst nuclear disaster, are still being felt today as discussed in the EuroparlTV video above.

 

The aftermath of Fukushima


After the Fukushima accident in Japan in March 2011, 145 reactors in 15 EU member states were tested to assess whether nuclear power plants here could withstand a natural disasters. The checks showed that nearly all nuclear power plants need safety improvements.


Insurance and liability


The draft resolution was approved by the EP's energy committee on 24 January. It also calls for new proposals on nuclear insurance and liability to be put forward by the end of 2013. The European Commission plans to present a report on the implementation of stress test recommendations by member states in June 2014.



Nuclear energy in EU (2013)



Nuclear power plants

Reactors

Nuclear power's share of electricity (%, 2011)

France

19

58

77.7

Belgium

2

7

54

Slovakia

2

4

54

Slovenia

1

1

41.7

Hungary

1

4

43.2

Sweden

3

10

39.6

Bulgaria

1

2

32.6

Finland

2

4

31.6

Czech republic

2

6

33

Germany

8

9

17.8

UK

9

16

17.8

Spain

5

7

19.5

Romania

1

2

19

Netherlands

1

1

3.6

Total

57

131

28 (EU average )


Sources: World Nuclear Association, European Commission