Austria protests Czech plans to expand controversial nuclear plant

VIENNA (AFP) Nov 18, 2003
The Austrian government said Tuesday it was to protest plans by the Czech Republic to expand a controversial nuclear plant that lies just 60 kilometres (36 miles) across the border from Austria.

The Temelin plant has soured Prague's relations with nuclear-free neighbour Austria, which has demanded safety and environmental guarantees.

Environment Minister Josef Proell said: "We have asked the Austrian ambassador in Prague to give a letter of protest to the Czech foreign ministry."

The Czech government is hoping to build two new reactors at Temelin, the industry vice minister Martin Pecina said in Prague in an interview published Monday in the Czech magazine Tyden.

Pecina said the project would be finalized next year and construction would begin in 2009 if all went as planned.

Temelin's first reactor went onstream in October 2000 despite repeated technical problems, and the second reactor is at full power, but in a trial phase.

Prague says that Temelin's two Soviet-designed reactors have been upgraded to Western safety standards.

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