Kalkar Nuclear Power Plant (SNR-300)—A Sodium-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor Prototype

The status of the Kalkar nuclear power plant in early summer 1986 is that, apart from later alterations to the workshop building, the assembly and nonnuclear commissioning work has practically been completed. From a technical point of view, nuclear commissioning of the plant can begin, but vital factors for this are the necessary nuclear licenses. The most important licensing prerequisites have been fulfilled; all essential appraisals have been available since January/February 1986. At the beginning of April 1986, the Reactor Safety Commission and the Radiation Protection Commission cast a positive vote for initial fuel loading. Before the accident in Chernobyl, but particularly since then, the issuing of the licenses has come under the political pressure of the commencing election campaign phase for the federal elections in January 1987. The initial project definition phase, the organizational boundary conditions, and the major requirements for the construction of the plant are summarized in chronological form. To provide the total picture, references dealing with general and technical aspects of the project are listed.