Shortly after two o'clock, two persons are overcoming the fence of the power plant site. Merry-go-round of well-defined steps follows. Some police officers in hoods secure strategic buildings. A hidden police sniper monitors the situation. He also gives information to the intervening team. The action was completed in four minutes. The intruders are halted. In handcuffs, they are transported for further questioning in the town of České Budějovice. "Both Czech nuclear power plants are among the strategic objects. That is also why the State pays due attention to their security. And the Czech Police is one of the components, which are involved to ensure power plants from terrorists or similar threats. Today, we have seen a demonstration of an intervention. There are many more activities involved in protection. Due to tactical reasons, however, they are not public," says Miloš Trojánek, South Bohemian Police Director.
The methods of providing for security of nuclear power plants must be approved by the State Office for Nuclear Safety. The Office also supervises how ČEZ meets individual prescribed measures. "The security of Temelín is at a high level. However, anything invented by a human may be overcome by a man. That's why nuclear safety lies as well in how to protect the power plant against such people," stated Dana Drábová, the Chairwoman of the State Office for Nuclear Safety.
In protecting nuclear power plants, ČEZ does not rely only on the state. Power plants are equipped with many physical barriers, organizational measures are set and compliance with the rules shall be supervised by hired security guards. The purpose of them is to prevent sabotage, theft of nuclear material or nuclear safety threats. "From the world, cases are known when there has been penetration to the power plant's site. The fence is a barrier, which defines the area of the facility and should delay the "uninvited visitors“ and complicate them any unauthorized entry. It is our priority to ensure buildings of importance for nuclear safety through successive barriers, security guards and in co-operation with the police," describes Bohdan Zronek, ČEZ Power Plants Security Director, the principle of power plants protection, and gives an example: "When someone climbs the fence of a family house, it also does not necessarily imply a robbed safe. It works on a similar principle as well as the security of nuclear power plants."
The security of Temelín power plant has been repeatedly inspected by international experts. The last review took place in 2008 and, then, inspectors rated Temelín Nuclear power plant among the top plants from the perspective of security.
Experts agree. We have to be prepared for the worst situations.
Nuclear Power Plant Temelínproduced its first electricity in December 2000. Currently, it is the largest source of electricity generation in Czech Republic. It covers one fifth of the Czech consumption by its safe and emission-free production. In 2013, it produced 15.065 billion of kWh of electric energy. Southern Bohemia would put up with the electricity from Temelín for almost 4 years and, for the Czech households, it would be sufficient for all year round.
