No immediate action planned over nuclear plants

Energy Minister Doris Leuthard says that she will wait and see how the situation in Japan develops before considering measures for nuclear plants in Switzerland.

Japan is currently battling to prevent a nuclear catastrophe following explosions at the Fukushima atomic power plant after Friday’s earthquake and tsunami.

In comments quoted on the Swiss News Agency, Leuthard said that the cabinet was being kept informed of the situation. Experts from the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) are in contact with other authorities as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency and are following developments “very closely”.

“The fact is that the situation over there is not under control,” said Leuthard.

There is no direct danger for the Swiss population, according to the ENSI.

“We don’t yet have enough knowledge to apply measures to other reactors, including those in Switzerland,” said Leuthard.

She added that the Japanese case would be studied carefully and the Swiss safety concept for nuclear plants amended if necessary. “Safety has utmost priority,” said the minister.

Technicians have been battling to cool three reactors at the Fukushima 1 plant since Friday, when the quake and tsunami combined to knock out the cooling system. Officials said the reactor core was still intact after the latest explosion and that radiation levels were below legal limits.