The ENSI Board published a media release today (Wednesday 2 November 2011) in which it announces that Horst-Michael Prasser will not be standing again for election to the ENSI Board. The Federal Council will elect the new ENSI Board for the next term of office by the end of this year. According to the media […]
The Federal Council announced today (Wednesday) that it has amended the Ordinance concerning ENSI. This involves a more precise definition of the implementation provisions regarding the independence of members of the ENSI Board. The amendment that has now been adopted means that the Federal Council provides a more precise definition than hitherto of the types of commercial activities and relationships, official functions and scientific activities which are not compatible with membership of the ENSI Board. The new implementation provisions on independence come into force on 1 November 2011.
In a widely-distributed letter addressed to the ENSI Board and Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, Markus Kühni, a member of Fokus Anti-Atom, levels fierce accusations against ENSI in his capacity as a private individual who resides close to Zone 2 (Bern).
The ENSI Board is committed to a strong, efficient and independent nuclear safety inspectorate that communicates openly. This is why it has simplified ENSI’s organisational structure and geared it to this guiding principle. The new organisational structure came into force on 1 September 2011.
This report provides an overview of the ENSI Board’s activities. It includes information about supervision, the status of quality assurance and the condition of the nuclear plants.
In view of the forthcoming elections for the new ENSI Board next autumn, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is to propose an adaptation of the ENSI Ordinance to the Federal Council; this concerns the provisions on the independence of ENSI Board members.
Peter Hufschmied, Chairman of the ENSI Board, will not be resuming his office. Hufschmied stepped aside on 3 May 2011 because major doubts had surfaced about his independence. Investigations subsequently initiated by DETEC have now shown that Hufschmied’s seats on other boards – which have since become public – are compatible with the provisions regarding independence stated in the ENSI Ordinance. However, discrepancies were identified between the ENSI Act and the Ordinance. In order not to jeopardise ENSI’s credibility, Hufschmied has therefore decided to resign from the ENSI Board immediately.
Peter Hufschmied, Chairman of the ENSI Board, is stepping aside with immediate effect. The reasons for this move are the accusations recently levelled against Hufschmied in the media, which raise questions about his independence as an ENSI Board member. Vice-Chair Anne Eckhardt Scheck will now head the ENSI Board. These moves have no impact on ENSI’s technical decisions because the ENSI Board is not allowed to intervene in the Inspectorate’s operational business.
This report provides an overview of the ENSI Board’s activities. It includes information about supervision, the status of quality assurance and the condition of the nuclear plants.
