Studies after the Fukushima accident

Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident in March 2011, a number of studies were launched on how the lessons learned from the accident should be taken into account in improving the safety of nuclear power plants.

In the years following the accident, Finland carried out national studies and stress tests of nuclear power plants in cooperation with EU nuclear safety authorities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also launched investigations following the Fukushima accident. The national investigations and the EU stress tests partly addressed the same issues, but they are separate and complementary processes

The national studies

National studies on preparedness for natural hazards and power supply disruptions at Finnish nuclear power plants were launched immediately after the Fukushima accident in March 2011 on the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM) and STUK. These studies focused on the most relevant issues for nuclear power plants in operation, under construction and planned in Finland. The studies also looked at the potential for safety improvements on a site-by-site basis.

EU stress tests

Following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident, the European Council decided on 25 March 2011 that the safety of all nuclear power plants in the EU should be comprehensively assessed through stress tests. The assessments were carried out according to a uniform formula for nuclear power plants in all EU countries. The stress tests were accompanied by an extensive international evaluation of the results in early 2012. The stress tests did not lead directly to mandatory safety improvement requirements for nuclear power plants, which are set out in national decisions.

The final report of the national stress tests and the resulting action plans are available on the European Commission's website ENSREG - Finland.