The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant, which was shut down in June 1984 and since April 2018 is being dismantled, no longer contains any nuclear fuel. Operator Preussenlektra announced that the last loading of a transport and storage container of the Castor type was successfully completed on Tuesday.

The container was from the The reactor building was funneled and brought to the on-site interim storage facility. The fuel element storage pool of the Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant was thus completely emptied, and the plant free of fuel. Thus 71 percent of the radioactive mass is removed from the operating time.

Preussenelektra sees the process as an important milestone in the dismantling of the plant. “Other remaining operating systems are no longer required and can be permanently decommissioned”, explains plant manager Bernd Kaiser, the shift staff can now be reduced. 2021 a quarter of the employees should take on new tasks and positions. At the moment there are only few Plans for 2021 From 2021 the reactor pressure vessel internals are to be dismantled in Grafenrheinfeld. For this purpose, components and equipment must first be removed at the level of the emptied fuel element storage pool in order to be able to prepare storage, handling, dismantling and packaging areas for the upcoming major project.

The Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant ran from 1982 to 2015. The pressurized water reactor had a gross electrical output of 1345 MW. By 13. Amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, the plant lost its authorization to operate power.

Since 2018 good 750 tons of demolition material were dismantled, just under 31. more tons are still ahead. The dismantling should be completed in 15 years .

Five nuclear power plants are still in operation in Germany (7 pictures) Since March 1984 Unit C of the nuclear power plant in Gundremmingen in Bavaria is in operation. Block A was from 1967 to 1977 in operation. The 1984 was connected to the network on 31. December 2017 switched off, block C – also 1984 put into operation – should follow 2021. (Image: kkw-gundremmingen.de) (anw)