Some aspects of nuclear power development in Czechoslovakia

Some technical and economic aspects of the development of nuclear power in Czechoslovakia are discussed. Specific conditions include the high population density of the territory and related factors as well as the shortage of raw materials for the construction of technological equipment and for the construction of buildings. It is stated that projects of future nuclear power plants should use reserves, such as are available in the standard project of a WWER-1000 nuclear power plant now being used in Temelin, as against foreign nuclear power plants. This mainly includes a bigger built-up area per installed megawatt of power and a greater number of personnel for operation and maintenance. Also discussed is the world-wide growth of capital costs, of construction time and of the number of workers needed for the construction of nuclear power plants. With the exception of the V-2 nuclear power plant the construction time of Czechoslovak nuclear power plants does not exceed world average. The maximum number of workers required for construction, however, compares unfavourably with advanced capitalist countries. Operating costs in Czechoslovakia are more favourable for nuclear power plants than for coal burning power plants and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants. (Z.M.)