The new Dutch government has confirmed that it will allow the 449MWe PWR at Borssele to operate until its reaches the end of its 40-year design life in 2013.
The government said in its political programme: "The Borssele nuclear plant will be shut down once it reaches the end of its technical design lifetime, ultimately in 2013." The announcement came after the government confirmed that it would not challenge a court ruling in favour of the continued operation of Borssele, following attempts by the previous government to shut down the unit by 2003.
The plant's operator, EPZ, has previously said that it would make a decision in 2010 concerning the continued operation of Borssele beyond 2013.
