Nuclear neighbourhood....

Since coming to live in Wettingen, we were a little surprised to be given Iodine tablets at the local registration office. "For a nuclear accident" we were told, and " instructions when to use will be on the radio". Very helpful when we don't even have a radio, and don't understand what they would be saying anyway.


This is the closest plant at Beznau, which is about 12kms as the crow flies. It is the oldest plant in Switzerland, commissioned in 1969 and is due for replacement. The planning process for rebuilding has been suspended due to recent events in Japan





This is the plant at Leibstadt, 20kms away, and very hard to miss because of the large cooling tower. We drove past this plant on our way to the Black Forest.

Nuclear power in Switzerland accounts for 40% of demand, and there is obviously now a big question mark over the continued use of this source of energy. Interestingly, France relies on Nuclear Energy for 75% of its demand!