Romania should implement seismic regulations on Cernavoda N-plant - EC

The absence of a seismic level comparable to the seismic level -1 of the International Atomic Energy Agency leading to plant shutdown and inspection is regarded a critical issue as the probability of large earthquakes occurring during the lifetime of the plant is extremely high, the Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement was issued following comprehensive risk and safety assessments of nuclear power plants in the European Union. The EU member states decided last year to conduct 'stress tests' of the power plants across the bloc to make sure the seismic safety of the facilities is high enough to prevent a major nuclear accident of the scale seen at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in March 2011.

The Commission proposed that further work be done in collecting information about margins to cliff edges and weak points and further improvements in the seismic upgrading be considered. It also recommended that the CNCAN [Romanian National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control] obtained good quality programmes from the licensees and ensured that the work is appropriately followed up.

Cernavoda operates two 700-megawatt reactors which cover around one-fifth of Romania's electricity needs.