First, insurance against a nuclear disaster in the offer

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Nuclear power

First, insurance against a nuclear disaster in the offer

In nuclear accidents such as in Fukushima, there is for concerned citizens is hardly compensation. In Austria, now offers a private insurance protection. Critics claim, however, that the NUCLEAR power plant operators for taking precautions should.

The Czech nuclear power plant Temelin in the near Austria

In Austria there are no nuclear power plants. In the immediate close to the border, in the neighboring countries of Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia, however, are 21 reactors in operation, among them the oldest in the world. Many Austrians are concerned about the safety of these power plants and that a nuclear disaster like in Chernobyl and Fukushima could meet.

For this case, now provides the insurance company L’Amie a
Atomversicherung
. It comes in one of the 21 cross-border reactors to a Super-Gau, “so we pay without bureaucracy, without further advice,” says managing Director Cristian Pedak compared to the DW.

Money in the event of a disaster

If the international atomic energy Agency (IAEA) in an accident on the international scale for Nuklearunfälle in the highest category classifies the level of seven, pays L’Amie up to 100,000 euros. In the event of accidents in the category of six, there is no money.

For the private insurance coverage of 100,000 euros must be a family in Vienna a premium of 610 Euro per year. Since November, there is this offer in Austria. According to L’Amie, it is the first private Atomversicherung in the world.

“To me, Fukushima has shown what can happen and that you as the recipient of nothing at all”, says Sabine Gruber DW. The mother of two small children who lives near Linz, in upper Austria, 120 km from the Czech reactors at Temelin away. She has the insurance and gets in an insurance claim of 25,000 euros paid. “Then at least I have some money and have the opportunities to respond. Without insurance, I’m missing this opportunity.”

The number of contracts signed is called L’Amie is not, however, whether the interest is large. “We have daily requests and which also the neighbouring countries. About an offer this insurance in other countries think we are after”, says Pedak.

NUCLEAR power plant Isar near Austria

Risks and costs of a nuclear disaster

The new insurance to develop cost L‘Amie a lot of time. After two and a half years ago, the young insurance companies other insurance companies are convinced that the so-called reinsurers, the product with secure.

In the assessment of risk is based L’Amie, among other things, on a
Analysis of the Max-Planck-Institute for chemistry in Mainz, Germany.
The mathematician figured out that a nuclear disaster like in Chernobyl and Fukushima, even in 10 to 20 years the world is likely to be. According to the scientist wears Western Europe because of the high Reaktordichte the worldwide highest risk of radioactive contamination.

Scientists from the Versicherungsforen Leipzig determined in a
Study
that the amount of damage from a major nuclear disaster in Europe between 150 and 6.363 billion euros.

The operators of nuclear power plants are liable for this risk, however, so far only very limited. In the EU countries, the required coverage between 0.1 and 2.5 billion euros. In Germany and Switzerland, shall be liable to the Reaktorbetreiber in addition, still with his Konzernvermögen.

Cracks in the reactor: The NUCLEAR power plant Tihange in Belgium makes many people fear

Private Pension plan held Fund operators?

Environmental groups and Green see the insurance offer with L’Amies rather critical. “The thrust of this private insurance is perhaps well meant,” says Rebecca Harms, the Chairwoman of the Greens in the European Parliament, “but that doesn’t change the actual Problem. All nuclear power plants in the EU are underinsured. It is clear that the state, so we are all the risks, and the companies out of their responsibility with state acquiescence.”

Harms has been for years for a better adhesion of the nuclear industry against the risks. “It is absurd that an industry earned a lot of money with old, always riskier nuclear power plants in the EU. And in the event of damage so cheap of them to come.”

Similar rates also Adam Pawloff of Greenpeace in Vienna the Situation. “Now that individuals for a policy of insurance to pay extra for the risks of the power plant operators caused, that is highly cynical.” Pawloff wants the liberation of the power plant operators of the complete liability end. For Greenpeace, this is a hidden subsidy to nuclear power.

Pawloff proposes that instead all Reaktorbetreiber in a public Fund, all risks covers. The Versicherungsforen Leipzig classed as a Fondsmodell in the study through: The cost for one kilowatt-hour of nuclear power would be around 14 to 67 cents increase.

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The largest German utility Eon, the four nuclear reactors at the Austrian border, operates, wants to get to the private Atomversicherungen of L’Amie do not Express an opinion and rejects an increase in the own liability. “With a financial security of 2.5 billion euros that Germany has taken a leading position”, says the opposite opinion of the DW. Together with the Konzernvermögen be “possible damages in case of accidents completely covered.”