CEZ: Czech Nuclear Power Plants Pass Stress Tests Safely
01/16/2012source: Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.PRAGUE -(Dow Jones)- Czech state-owned power company CEZ AS (BAACEZ.PR) Monday said all of its nuclear reactors have comfortably passed stress tests demanded by the European Commission.
The tests simulated floods, extreme swings in temperature, severe earthquakes and the like and were conducted over the last six months, jointly by the Czech State Institute for Nuclear Safety, the country's Institute of Nuclear Research and by Czech Technical University.
"The results of the stress tests reflect our philosophy of a proactive approach to nuclear safety in which we continually examine and improve [all systems]," said Vladimir Hlavinka, head of production at CEZ.
The company has six nuclear reactors at two power plants in the country, and is also currently running a public tender to build two and possibly another three additional reactors.
Bidders in the tender estimated to be worth up to $25 billion are Westinghouse Electric Co., a unit of Japan'sToshiba Corp. (6502.TO); France's state-owned Areva SA (AREVA.FR); and Russia's state-owned Rosatom.
Their bids are due July 2 and CEZ will announce the winner in late 2013.
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