KKB starts annual inspection in Unit 1

Unit 1 of the Beznau nuclear power plant (KKB) will be taken off the grid today for about 8 weeks as planned. The plant is thus starting its maintenance shutdown after a trouble-free 340-day operating cycle.

The main focus of the overhaul will be on maintenance work, recurring tests and inspections, and the commissioning of new systems and components. Of the total of 121 fuel assemblies, 20 will be replaced. During the overhaul work, the more than 400 employees of KKB will be supported by several hundred external specialists from the region, as well as from Switzerland and abroad.

Since 24 May 2021, unit 1 has produced more than 3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity around the clock without interruption, which corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 650 000 average four-person households.

During the shutdown, steam visibly escapes from the non-nuclear part of the plant. There is no danger to the people and the environment.

The inspection is supervised by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI.