Axpo Holding [RIC:RIC:AXPO.UL] carried out a “rapid shutdown” at one of its nuclear power stations late on Sunday, the Swiss electricity company said, adding the plant was safe at all times.
The automatic emergency shutdown happened at Unit 2 of the Beznau plant near Doettingen, northern Switzerland, following a failure of the connection to the power grid.
The shutdown released non-radioactive steam through the roof of the turbine hall, Axpo said.
“The plant responded according to design and was in a safe condition at all times,” Axpo said, adding the Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate had been informed and the reason for the failure is now being investigated.
The plant, one of Switzerland’s four active nuclear power stations, was opened in 1972 and is due to stay in service until 2033.
Switzerland decided to phase out atomic energy after the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan. In 2017, Swiss voters approved a government plan that included a ban on building new nuclear power stations.