(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 17 OCT - According to the most updated
seismic and tectonic history of the site of Krsko, "the
strongest earthquake that can occur in a radius of approximately
20 km" from the nuclear power plant "would have magnitude M of
approximately 7," the Italian geologist Livio Sirovich told
ANSA.
The value was the result of a 2012 study of researchers of
the National Institute of Italy for Oceanography and
Experimental Geophysics (OGS), coordinated by Sirovich. After
being initially rejected, "the maximum magnitude M 7 was also
adopted by US consultants" involved in studies about a second
nuclear reactor in Krsko "as the worst possible earthquake in
the region," Sirovich said during an interview with ANSA.
"When the nuclear power plant was designed, no probabilistic
study of seismic hazard of the site was performed," the
geologist added, noting that "not even an updated study on the
1917 earthquake had been carried out" at the time. According to
the current knowledge, in 1917 a damaging earthquake occurred in
the proximity of the current plant. Estimates from 1982 spoke of
a M 5.7 Richter, revalued to 6.2 in 2012 by two European
experts.
According to Sirovich, the idea of a second nuclear reactor
at Krsko is "not wise". The EU should rather help Slovenia "to
dismantle the existing power plant, because it suffers from
excessive seismic risk." (ANSA).
© Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved