Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Nuclear Country Notes

Netherlands

Two NPPs have been constructed in the Netherlands: a 55 MWe BWR at Dodewaard (which operated from 1968 to 1997) and a 449 MWe PWR at Borssele (online from 1973). Borssele's output accounted for almost 4% of Dutch electricity generation in 2005.

In January 2006 the Dutch Government agreed to a 20-year life extension for the Borssele plant, allowing it to operate until December 2033; six months later Parliament ratified the decision. Also in June 2006 , the chairman and CEO of Delta, one of the companies with shareholdings in Borssele's operator EPZ, revealed that Delta was investigating the possibility of constructing a new reactor at Borssele, which could be operating by 2016. A major refit completed at the end of 2006 resulted in Borssele's capacity being raised to 485 MWe.

September 2006 saw a reversal of the Government's phase-out policy, when new conditions for the construction of NPPs were announced. Any new reactor must be a third-generation model, with barriers to prevent containment breaches. Other rules relate to the disposal of high-level waste and used fuel, plant dismantling and decommissioning funds.