Strengthened Safety - Projects Implemented For Coping With Severe Accidents

Slovak nuclear power plants would not have been able to achieve their excellent operating results without continuous safety improvements. Safety comes first at Slovenske elektrarne and, without exception, takes precedence over achieving electricity production targets. We take a very conservative approach in nuclear power plant management - constantly looking for improvements is the approach that moves us forward. Based on these factors, as well as best international practice and experience, Slovenske elektrarne at the turn of the millennium began seriously considering measures that would ensure even better protection against potential incidents, which had been previously disregarded in the design of power plants many years earlier. Although the likelihood of a severe accident is very small, we most certainly do not underestimate it. A severe accident at a nuclear power plant is when a meltdown of the nuclear fuel in the reactor occurs due to the overheating of fuel elements because of insufficient reactor cooling. In the history of commercial nuclear units there have only been three such cases, with each of these events having then been investigated down to the smallest detail, and the results transmitted directly to the nuclear industry. The industry immediately responded with new measures to prevent any such similar event occurring elsewhere in the world.