On 10 February 2025, at 13:05, a rapid shutdown of reactor number 2 at the Beznau nuclear power plant (NPP) in Döttingen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland occurred due to an erroneous operation during a routine check. The plant reacted to the established procedures and remained secure, according to the operator AXPO. The Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (FNSI) and other relevant authorities were apprised of the incident promptly. After receiving a favourable opinion from the FNSI, the restart operations were conducted without any critical issues or risks to the population or the environment.
The Beznau NPP, among the oldest in the world still in operation, consists of two reactors: Beznau 1 was commissioned in 1969, whilst its sister reactor, Beznau 2, came on-line in 1972. Each of the pressurised-water (PWR) reactors has an estimated electrical net capacity of approximately 365 MW. The plant is owned by AXPO.
