From the "We may be o.k., but we're not sure about you" file:

(Snip)

French N-plants could be jeopardised by Y2K bug

PARIS, May 4 (Reuters) - Safety at France's network of nuclear power stations could be jeopardised by the millennium computer bug, the French Institute of Nuclear Safety (IPSN) said in a report on Tuesday.

The state organisation said nuclear power stations were threatened not just by possible failures from their own internal computer systems, but also by the prospect of problems with the general French electricity grid.

It said research showed that between 45 and 80 percent of internal systems ``could be sensitive'' to the arrival of 2000.

``Malfunctions of certain computer and automated systems at the power stations could weaken safety levels,'' the IPSN said, adding that more than 40 percent of the systems needed to be operational to guarantee short-term safety at the plants.

France relies more than any other nation on nuclear power and also supplies many of its neighbours with electricity.

(End snip)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 04, 1999

Answers

http://infoseek.go.com/Content?arn=a1286LBY830reulb-19990504&qt=N- Plants&sv=IS&lk=noframes&col=NX&kt=A&ak=news1486

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), May 04, 1999.

France relies more than any other nation on nuclear power and also supplies many of its neighbours with electricity. 

*Sigh*

At Kevins link ...

The IPSN said many people considered a generalized failure across electricity networks in a number of countries was''plausible'' with the Y2K bug.

The French nuclear safety authority (DSIN) said in March that preparations to tackle the millennium bug were proceeding smoothly, but said it would switch off power stations if it thought their security was threatened.

Preparations? Or fixes?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 05, 1999.