The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE reports that the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK will start to assess the safety systems of Finnish nuclear power plants.

The Minister of Economic Affairs Mr Mauri Pekkarinen states in an interview of YLE that the external electricity feed and flood protection in risk situations are to be assessed. According to Mr Pekkarinen, the assessment is needed after the nuclear power accident in Japan.

Mr Pekkarinen says the assessment must be made despite the fact that there are no faults in the safety systems of Finnish nuclear power plants. According to the Minister, for example the preparedness for major floods must be assessed as well as the effectiveness of external electricity feed.

Last time Mr Pekkarinen had the safety systems checked by STUK a couple of years ago when the water level rising in the Gulf of Finland generated concerns. According to Mr Pekkarinen, the assessments carried out then proved that the risk limits are still far.