According to the publication, the incidents at Vattenfall’s German nuclear plants, which both occurred on June 28, 2007, have led German authorities to look into whether Vattenfall’s licenses to operate the plants should be withdrawn. The utility has reportedly responded by sacking Bruno Thomauske, the managing director of Vattenfall Europe Nuclear Energy.
Mr Thomauske was not the only casualty resulting from the nuclear plants’ failings as, according to the Financial Times, Johannes Altmeppen, Vattenfall Europe’s corporate communications director, has also resigned over the issue.
However, the media is reporting that the impact of the failings has been more widespread than Vattenfall’s management. Indeed, the issue has reignited ongoing concerns over the use of nuclear power generation in Germany, Forbes has revealed. The publication reported that the recent failures have prompted those opposed to German’s nuclear energy program to call for its end.
While the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, is supporting the use of nuclear energy because it produces fewer emissions than fossil fuel power generation, many are supporting the law passed in 2000 that requires Germany’s 17 nuclear power plants to be shut down by 2021.
Vattenfall has pledged to work towards regaining public confidence in its operations and, according to Forbes, will invest E5 million in hiring a group of specialists to study the failures and propose upgrade works.
