On November 29, 2001, Czech prime minister Milos Zeman and Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel agreed in Brussels that Austria would consent to the closure of the Czech energy chapter in exchange for the Czech Republic's fulfilling seven Austrian demands relating to the safety of Temelin. The obligation for the Czech side to strengthen safety inspections and information-sharing procedures will be written into the accession treaty. The agreement also includes a rule under which the Czech side will have a say on possible blockades of state borders.
Temelin resumed start-up tests at the end of November after a leaking circulation pump caused the latest shutdown, this one lasting one month. Last month the Czech nuclear power regulator SUJB allowed output to be raised to 90% from 75%. Temelin CEO Frantisek Hezoucky said he expects to request permission to advance to 100% output early this month. Trial operation is planned to be launched in March and last 18 months.
