Spain to inspect all nuclear power plants in country
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The Spanish government said Wednesday it would carry out a full inspection of all its nuclear power plants, in the wake of the disasterous earthquake in Japan.
The inspection will include an assessment of the risks posed to the plants as a result of seismic activity and possible flooding.
The announcement came a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was closing down all of the reactors in Germany that were over 30 years old prior to investigations into their safety.
Miguel Sebastian, the minister of industry, commerce and tourism, insisted, however, that he had full confidence in the safety of Spain's nuclear installations. He said that the country's Nuclear Security Council was closely following events in Japan.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero confirmed that Spain would carry out a "rigorous examination of the security conditions."
What we are going to do now is make extra sure. Japan has to serve as an experience from which we can all draw conclusions, which are thought through and scientifically backed up which can sustain the resulting political decisions," the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez said that if need be the government would act to repatriate the 1,852 Spanish nationals currently living in Japan.
"We are not going to withhold any resources or efforts to ensure that our nationals are safe. We will put all of our resources that are necessary at their disposition," Jimenez said from Aman, where she is currently on a short tour of the Middle East.
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