Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) earlier this month started to up the power output to 107 percent at both blocks of the nuclear power plant in Mochovce (Nitra region), company spokesman Juraj Kopriva told the TASR newswire on June 16.
"With the use of technological reserves of Units 1 and 2, SE is trying to cushion the negative impact on Slovakia’s power self-sufficiency after the two blocks of the state-owned nuclear power plant Jaslovské Bohunice (Trnava region) were shut down," according to Kopriva.
SE decided to increase the power output after the positive experience with its increase in other nuclear power plants, such as Paks (Hungary), Dukovany (Czech Republic) and Loviisa (Finland). The increase was enabled through improved technologies. The whole process is being supervised by the Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority (UJD). A public debate about the plans took place in the latter half of 2007, according to Kopriva.
"UJD issued a licence to the Mochovce nuclear power plant on May 29 that allows the power output of the reactor to reach 107 percent of its nominal output due to the good results of all of the tests," Kopriva added. “The process was launched on June 2, when the blocks reached 102 percent of their nominal output.”
SE is the dominant electricity producer in Slovakia and the second biggest in the CEE region. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
