Sellafield 'excluded from nuclear plant stress tests'

It is reported that the Sellafield plant in England will not be included in a round of stress tests on nuclear facilities across Europe.

Authorities in Britain have apparently decided to exclude Sellafield from the review, because it only reprocesses nuclear fuel, and does not generate power anymore.

However, a spokesperson for the Irish Department of the Environment has told the Irish Times that Minister Phil Hogan was led to believe just two months ago that Sellafield would be included in the tests.

Europe has 143 nuclear reactors, and a series of voluntary tests was announced in the aftermath of the nuclear emergency at the earthquake-stricken Fukushima plant in Japan.