Radioactive water leak fuels nuclear controversy

About 3,000 litres of radioactive water leaked at a troubled nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic close to the Austrian border, officials in Prague said today.

They said the accident on Sunday at the plant in Temelin did not contaminate the environment – but it is likely to fuel concerns in non-nuclear Austria about the controversial power station.

Plant spokesman Milan Nebesar said the water – equivalent to 800 gallons - leaked early on Sunday at the plant’s second unit, which had been shut down for repairs since Wednesday.

“Some 3,000 litres have leaked, but it happened in a closed area and all the water went to a special tank through a special sewage system,” Nebesar said.

He blamed the leak on a broken tube on which the flow of water is measured.

The plant’s first unit has been shut down since mid-April for routine maintenance. It is expected to be back on line in mid-July.

Located 35 miles north of the Austrian border, the plant has been a source of friction between the Czech Republic and Austria for more than 10 years.

While the Austrian government has eased pressure on the Czechs, environmentalists in Austria consider the plant unsafe and want it closed. The Czech government says it is safe.