Built in 1969, the Beznau facility in canton Aargau is the world’s oldest commercial nuclear power plant. It has been out of service since March 2015, when anomalies were found in its steam generator.

The safety authorities now say the reactor presents no security risk.

Following the announcement, utility company Axpo said it hoped to have the reactor fully up and running again by the end of March. But there was immediate protest from environmental groups who called this “absolutely irresponsible”.

Beznau is one of two reactors that were shut down to check the quality of steel components used in their steam generators. The Beznau II reactor was built in 1971.

+Read more about Switzerland’s aging nuclear plants

Switzerland has five nuclear power reactors which generate about 34.5% of the nation’s energy needs. It uses nuclear energy to produce electricity, in research and medicine.

In May 2017, Swiss voters endorsed a new energy law that aims to promote renewable energy by banning new nuclear power plants and reducing energy consumption.

The Mühleberg nuclear plant near Bern, built in 1972, will shut down in 2019, according to the power station operators.

Source:  Swissinfo.ch   ||  March 12, 2018   |||