25 years after the foundation of Isar-1

The past nineteen years since the commissioning of KKI-1 were characterized by time consuming and very costly backfitting measures designed to keep the plant abreast of current safety requirements. The success of these measures was confirmed by the licensing authority. Also the radiation exposure of the staff and the environment was reduced step by step, and plant availability was raised further. As a consequence, the plant is a condition now which is better than that of 1977, when the plant was commissioned. KKI-1 thus is well equipped to meet new challenges in the future. The agreement about the electricity directives reached in Luxemburg in mid-1996 will introduce completely new boundary conditions for the power economy in the European Union (EU). According to the new provisions, each EU member country is to open its electricity market to competition step by step from 1999 to the latest. All electricity producers will be able to supply their customers through direct transmission lines. All end user or distributor customers will be in a position to choose their electricity suppliers freely. Also KKI-1 will have to face this competition. The plant is fit for the new era.