Beznau nuclear power plant: Unit 1 back on grid after scheduled outage

10.06.2019 - Scheduled maintenance work on Unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant (KKB) has been completed and the plant went back on grid this evening after approval by the Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI).

The focus of refurbishment comprised maintenance work, recurring tests and inspections as well as the commissioning of new systems. In addition, integral system tests were carried out as usual. Of the 121 fuel elements, 20 were replaced with new elements and installed in the reactor core.

In the course of restarting, various additional safety tests will be performed on Unit 1 and full-power operation will be taken up in phases. The plant will be back to full load in about three days.

At times, steam will be emitted from the non-nuclear section of plant during the restart. This does not pose any danger to human beings or the environment.

During refurbishment, employees at KKB were supported by several hundred external specialists from the region as well as from Switzerland and abroad.