How European utilities aim to minimize O ampersand M costs

This article is a discussion of Western European utilities' efforts to reduce operating and maintenance costs at nuclear power plants. The way that these utilities cope with O ampersand M costs may differ moderately from country to country, and as a result, the methods employed by each Western European nation with a major nuclear power stake are discussed. In all cases, a sound maintenance philosophy and a fine-tuned plant organization are fundamental to reducing O ampersand M costs. Common to all the countries is an emphasis on the safe and efficient operation of the units and the planning and management of outages