ONR publishes nuclear stress test results

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has published the results of the stress tests carried out at country's non-power producing nuclear facilities.

Chief nuclear inspector Mike Weightman ordered the tests as following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan early in 2011.

Mark Foy, a senior inspector at the ONR, explained it was a unique opportunity for the nuclear industry to learn from a serious incident.

"We have required licensees to assess how well they would deal with extreme situations beyond what they would normally consider in their regular safety reviews," he said, adding accident management is one of the key areas to be highlighted by the report.

Mr Foy also noted the publication of the stress tests results is going to lead to improved levels of safety in the nuclear sector in the UK.

British companies were involved in the clean-up operation at the Fukushima site in the north-east of Japan, with the Department of Energy and Climate Change agreeing a Framework on Civil Nuclear Cooperation with the Japanese government.