Swiss nuclear power plant shuts down, experts reveal cause

Switzerland's nuclear power plant in Dottingen near the border with Germany was automatically shut down yesterday evening due to a fault in the grid connection, operator Axpo announced today.

"The power plant was shut down due to a malfunction," Axpo said, adding that during the shutdown, non-radioactive water vapor was released into the air over the roof of a part of the plant that was not involved in nuclear reactions.

A fault in the connection to the electrical grid has been found in only one reactor and experts are currently trying to determine its cause.

But, it is currently unknown when the reactor can be restarted, writes yahoonews, the Telegraph reports.

Otherwise, the Beznau 1 and Beznau 2 nuclear power plants are also located in Dottingen, about seven kilometers from the border with Germany.

They were commissioned in 1969 and 1971 and are among the oldest active nuclear power plants in the world.

Switzerland has decided to phase out nuclear power, but active power plants can continue to operate until their safety permits expire.

Axpo is currently planning to close Beznau 1 and 2 in 2032 and 2033, respectively. /Telegraph/