Mühleberg nuclear power plant to be finally decommissioned in 2019

Final cessation of power operations: Mühleberg nuclear power plant to be definitively taken off the grid on 20 December 2019 | Media release BKW Energie AG

At the end of February, BKW notified the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI in due time that it will finally cease power operations at the Mühleberg nuclear power plant on 20 December 2019. From this date, no more electricity will be produced at the nuclear power plant. This is subject to the condition that the necessary legal framework conditions are in place for dismantling without delay.

In this way, BKW is fulfilling a requirement made by ENSI in December 2015 with regard to the planned decommissioning of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant. Following the final cessation of power operations on 20 December 2019, preparations for dismantling are to begin without delay with the establishment of technical post-operation and preparatory measures. The prerequisite for this is the availability of the legally binding decommissioning order and the necessary approvals from ENSI.

The establishment of technical post-operation will be completed when all fuel assemblies are in the fuel pool and the pool is cooled independently of other systems. According to the current planning status, this work will take at least nine months. Once this work has been completed, the Mühleberg nuclear power plant will be finally decommissioned. This will therefore take place at the end of September 2020 at the earliest. BKW also communicated this date to ENSI in due time in accordance with the December 2015 requirement.

The decommissioning of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant is a major project. BKW is the first company in Switzerland to decommission a power reactor. BKW submitted the decommissioning application for the Mühleberg nuclear power plant to the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications in December 2015. The documents are expected to be made available to the public for one month from the beginning of April. At this time, the local population will also be informed about the contents at information events and the public will be informed in detail via the media.

Final cessation of power operation The term "final cessation of power operation" refers to the point in time from which a nuclear power plant is taken off the grid and no longer produces electricity.

Final decommissioning

Final decommissioning" is the point in time from which the nuclear power plant is ready for post-commissioning. In the case of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant, this is the point in time from which all fuel assemblies are in the fuel pool and this is cooled independently of other systems.