Swiss federal authorities

Nuclear Power Plants

Switzerland has five nuclear power plants: Beznau I & II, Mühleberg, Gösgen and Leibstadt. In addition to the nuclear power plants, three research reactors are in operation: at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Würenlingen, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Lausanne and the University of Basel. And finally, the national central interim storage facility for radioactive waste (ZWILAG) at Würenlingen is also monitored by ENSI.

 

News

  • Gesamtansicht des Kernkraftwerkes Leibstadt mit grüner Wiese
    News, Posts

    2024 Operating Report: Nuclear installations met safety requirements

    Over the past year, nuclear installations in Switzerland fulfilled the requirements for safe operation. This is the conclusion reached by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) in its initial operating report for the 2024 oversight year. Both the public and the environment were protected from radioactive substances.

  • KKW Gösgen hält Erdbeben der Störfallkategorie 3 stand
    News, Posts

    Gösgen nuclear power plant can withstand category 3 earthquakes

    The Gösgen nuclear power plant has demonstrated that it can bring its reactor to a safe and stable state in the event of or after a very severe earthquake. For earthquakes that are only expected to occur every 10,000 years, the permissible dose of 100 millisievert will not be exceeded. However, ENSI is requesting the…

  • KKW Beznau, Blocks 1 und 2
    Allgemein, News, Posts

    ENSI takes note of the decision to operate Beznau NPP up to 2033

    ENSI takes note of Axpo’s decision to operate Beznau 1 Nuclear Power Plant until 2033 and Beznau 2 Nuclear Power Plant until 2032. Beznau NPP has an open-ended operating licence, as is the case for all Swiss NPPs. Subject to safety being guaranteed, the operator is free to make a commercial decision about how long…

  • News, Posts

    2023 Oversight Report: The safety status of the nuclear power plants is good

    ENSI verified the status of the Swiss nuclear power plants by 327 inspections. In 2023, the year under review, 22 reportable nuclear-safety-relevant incidents were recorded at the nuclear power plants. ENSI provides detailed information in the oversight report published today.

  • Delegation der spanischen Aufsichtsbehörde.
    News, Posts

    The Spanish regulatory authority and ENSI in talks on radiation protection

    From 6 to 8 May 2024, a delegation from the Spanish regulatory authority visited ENSI. Discussions focused on the topic of radiation protection, in particular exchanging of experience relating to the Leibstadt NPP and to the Mühleberg NPP, which is currently being dismantled.

  • KKB Beznau
    News, Posts

    Leibstadt and Beznau nuclear power plants can withstand infrequent severe earthquakes

    Both Leibstadt and Beznau nuclear power plants have shown that, in the event of or after a very severe earthquake, they can ensure that their reactors are stable and safe. Dose values of one or 100 millisievert which have to be complied with will not be exceeded even after earthquakes that are only to be…

Background Articles

  • Background articles, Posts

    Series of articles on barriers 6/6: The containment holds radioactive substances in the reactor building

    The reactor pressure vessel is enclosed by the containment as the third barrier. This consists of a steel primary containment and a concrete secondary containment.

  • Background articles, Posts

    Series of articles on barriers 5/6: The water circuit (primary circuit part 2 of 2)

    With its pipelines, shut-off valves and other components, the cooling circuit, together with the reactor pressure vessel, is the second barrier for trapping radioactive substances.

  • Background articles, Posts

    Series of articles on barriers 4/6: The reactor pressure vessel (primary circuit part 1 of 2)

    The reactor pressure vessel, together with the water’s cooling circuit, is the second barrier for trapping radioactive substances.

Documents