Stichting Laka

Publication Laka-library:
Nuclear safety in the Netherlands

Author	RU Groningen
Date	September 1986
Classification	1.01.0.00/40 (GENERAL)
Front

SUMMARY
The state of knowlegde regarding the release of
radioactivity into the environment following a severe nuclear
reactor accident (the so-called source term) has grown
considerably since the fifties. In this paper past trends are
summarized and the current research program is described. Besides
some limitations of the techniques used in the source term
calculations are identified.

Against this background the history of the official Dutch
nuclear policy is outlined. At the time of the Chernobyl disaster
the Dutch parliament was on the verge of deciding in favour of
the construction of at least two 1000 MWe nuclear reactors. In
this process the associated risks were quantified and declared to
be acceptable.

These risks, expressed in terms of estimated releases at a
severe accident, happen to be comparable with the IAEA data on
the Chernobyl disaster. It is therefore concluded that the Dutch
authorities - not aware of the factual scope of their statement -
have accepted an accident with the same magnitude as Chernobyl
for newly-build reactors in or near Holland. Further implications
of Chernobyl for Dutch policy are outlined.

This publication is only available at Laka on paper, not as pdf.
You can borrow the publication or request a copy. When we're available, this is possible for a small fee.