VIENNA/PRAGUE - Johanna Miklová-Leitner, Governor of the Austrian state of Lower Austria, has sent a letter to the European Commission asking it to halt the planned expansion of the Czech nuclear power plant Dukovany. She said the construction of the new nuclear unit poses a serious safety risk to the people of the region and the entire European Union, the Austrian daily Kronen Zeitung reported today.

Miklová-Leitner, who has long opposed nuclear power, argues in particular the proximity of Dukovany to the Austrian border. Lower Austria is adjacent to southern Moravia and, according to the governor, would be in immediate danger in the event of an accident. "Our duty is to protect people's health and the environment. That is why I am appealing to the European Commission to prevent this project," she was quoted as saying by the Austrian press.

Austria has traditionally been one of the biggest critics of the use of nuclear energy in Europe. Vienna has been pushing for a switch to renewables and has repeatedly protested against nuclear projects in neighbouring countries. The Austrian government has raised similar objections in the past, for example against the completion of Temelin.

The Czech government responded to the news from Austria by rejecting the criticism. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the expansion of Dukovany is necessary to ensure energy self-sufficiency and stability of electricity supply. Prime Minister Petr Fiala has repeatedly stressed that the Czech Republic has the right to decide on its energy mix and nuclear energy is part of its strategy to reduce emissions and meet climate commitments.

The opposition also commented on the project. While some of the opposition parties criticise the government for the high cost of construction and call for more investment in renewable energy sources, others support nuclear power as a way to energy independence from gas and oil imports. The debate on the future of Dukovany thus remains one of the key issues in Czech politics.

At the request of the Czech Press Agency, the European Commission has not yet commented on the case. However, according to the available information, the Commission is rather reticent in such disputes and emphasises that the decision on the energy mix is a matter for individual Member States. Nevertheless, Brussels has the possibility to review projects for compliance with European rules and safety standards.

The Austrian initiative may thus lead to further legal and political debates between the two neighbouring countries. The outcome will depend not only on the position of the European Commission, but also on the willingness of both sides to seek a compromise between the Czech Republic's energy strategy and the concerns of the Austrian public.

gnews.cz - GH