The European Union decided Tuesday to apply stress tests on its nuclear reactors to see how they will respond to earthquakes and calamities such as a surge of water in high levels.
The decision came amid the ongoing nuclear mishaps in Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear site which are causing public fear due to the dangerous levels of radiation leaking from the plants.
The northeast of Japan, where the nuclear plant is located, was struck by tsunami that rose as much as 10 feet after a massive earthquake hit last Friday.
The tests will be largely voluntary and members will not be bound to conduct them. But Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said the commission, which runs the day-to-day operations of the bloc, is willing to push through with it and will devise standards to harmonize their plan.
Mr. Oettinger said tests were initially planned to take place in Turkey, Russia, and Switzerland before the year ends. The age and location of the plants will be taken into account.
Mr. Oettinger said the stress tests must follow stringent standards that would be set by June this year.
Nuclear energy is a component of the European Union climate roadmap’s energy mix. Europe plans to augment its energy capacity both with renewable energy sources and nuclear power, from the current 45 percent to nearly 100 percent in 2050 according to its current Climate Roadmap 2050.
For now, E.U. parliament members have varied opinions on the nuclear tests. British European Parliament member Fiona Hall, among others, said the strength of cooling systems and storage of spent fuel must undergo strict testing.
Meanwhile, some Spanish, British, and Hungarian lawmakers are saying the commission must get accurate details about the accidents in Japan first before moving toward long-term decisions on Europe’s energy future.
Meanwhile, on the same day as the E.U.’s decision to apply stress tests on its nuclear reactors, Germany said it will shut down its seven old reactors built before 1980, for a comprehensive review of the industry.
