09.08.2019 - The Beznau nuclear power plant (KKB) will take Unit 2 off grid as scheduled tomorrow, 10 August 2019, in order to perform inspection work and refuelling. The work will take about 40 days. This marks the end of a malfunction-free operating cycle of about 400 days, which began on 9 July 2018.
The focus of work includes maintenance, recurring tests and inspections. Integral system tests and pressure tests will also be carried out as usual. Of the 121 fuel elements, 20 will be replaced with new elements and installed in the reactor core.
Last year KKB Unit 2 continually generated some 3.4 billion kilowatt hours of electricity with no malfunctions, which corresponds to the yearly electricity consumption of approx. 700,000 households.
At times steam will be emitted into the atmosphere from the non-nuclear section of the plant during shutdown. This does not pose any danger to human beings or the environment.
During refurbishment the approx. 450 employees at KKB will be supported by several hundred external specialists from the region as well as from Switzerland and abroad.
The work in progress to replace weather protection on the containment dome of KKB Unit 2 will continue on schedule.
All work is supervised by the Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI.
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