Slovenia: Krsko shuts down over leak

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT 6 - The Krsko nuclear power plant in Slovenia (NEK) began a precautionary shutdown last evening due to a leak in the containment building, according to Krsko management. "The operations team discovered an increased primary system discharge within the containment building," according to a NEK statement, but "the release has no impact on employees, the population, or the environment and is below the limit value set by the technical specifications." According to Slovenian news agency STA, the reactor's power was gradually reduced beginning at 23:00 last night. After the reactor is shut down, the crews will attempt to locate and repair the source of the leak, which is located entirely within the containment structure, STA wrote.
    According to data from Slovenia's electricity transmission operator ELES, Slovenia has not produced electricity from its nuclear power plant since 5.00 this morning, but only from thermoelectric and hydroelectric sources, implying that the shutdown process has been completed. (ANSA).