Perspectives of development in nuclear industry

After having passed through phases of euphoria and retardation nuclear power has been on its way to normality, i.e., to a phase of consolidation, over the past four or five years. Fears after the Chernobyl accident, which had been deliberately stirred up in some instances, have turned out not to be convertible into benefits arising to certain political parties, as has been evidenced by the outcome of recent elections. Nuclear technology enjoys a solid scientific backing in all its ramifications, including the behavior of nuclear power plants under accident conditions, and encompassing the management of core meltdown. A comprehensive inspection and service concept has assigned to quality assurance the rank it deserves under aspects of reliability and operational safety. As far as the construction of new nuclear power plants is concerned, nuclear industry will be facing a difficult period of time worldwide in the next few years. It could be used for consolidating the present technical level of nuclear power plants and for defining the objectives of their further technical development. (orig.)