Dukovany shuts down unit 3 for regular partial fuel replacement

Dukovany, South Moravia, Sept 30 (CTK) - Nuclear power plant Dukovany has started a planned shutdown of its unit 3 for a regular partial fuel replacement, having disconnected it from the grid at 12:08, the plant's spokesman Jiri Bezdek told CTK today.

The shutdown will have no impact on customers, as the plant's other three units remain in full operation, Bezdek said.

The shutdown of unit 3 should end on November 18, according to data of the plant's operator, energy group CEZ, in the Market Transparency (REMIT) system.

CEZ will confirm the date of the end of the shutdown based on the progress of the planned activities, Bezdek said.

Unit 3 had been producing electricity continuously for 430 days.

"Some 15,165 operational commands and 47 significant technical and investment actions are in store for both ourselves and our suppliers during the shutdown," the plant's director Roman Havlin said.

During the shutdown, technical adjustments of cooling tower 8 will be finalised, optimising the operation of Dukovany's cooling towers in an investment that will increase the plant's electricity grid supply by 15,539 megawatt hours (MWh), according to CEZ.

Temelin, Czechia's second nuclear plant, and Dukovany supplied a total of 30.73 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity to the grid last year, with Temelin contributing 15.86 TWh and Dukovany 14.86 TWh.

The Dukovany plant has generated 11 TWh of power so far this year.

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