Gemeenschappelijke Kernenergiecentrale Nederland

Gemeenschappelijke Kernenergiecentrale Nederland (GKN) is a Dutch nuclear energy company founded in 1965 by the joint Dutch electricity producers. Its primary purpose was to build and operate the first Dutch nuclear power plant, Kerncentrale Dodewaard (KCD), for research and knowledge acquisition in nuclear electricity generation. The plant, which began operation in 1969, was a pioneering facility that contributed to international nuclear developments. After decades of operation, electricity production ceased in 1997. GKN then placed the plant into a state of safe enclosure (veilige insluiting) in 2005, a 40-year monitoring period before final dismantling, expected around 2045. The company is now responsible for the safe enclosure and eventual decommissioning of the plant. GKN was initially a government organization, transferred to SEP in 1989, and after the privatization of SEP in 2001, ownership passed to Nederlands Elektriciteit Administratiekantoor (NEA). GKN is not publicly listed and operates as a private company.

Gemeenschappelijke Kernenergiecentrale Nederland (GKN) was founded on 2 February 1965 by the joint Dutch electricity production companies, which were all government-owned at the time. The shares were distributed according to their share in electricity delivered in 1960, with EZH in South Holland being by far the largest shareholder. The company was established as a B.V. (private limited company) rather than an N.V. Its objective was to establish and operate the first Dutch nuclear power plant, enabling Dutch electricity producers to gain practical experience and knowledge in electricity generation through nuclear fission. Initially, the focus was on a research reactor, with electricity production of secondary importance. Construction of the Kerncentrale Dodewaard began on 25 February 1965. The reactor was tested in 1968 at 50 MWe and received a permit for 163 MWth, later increased to about 183 MWth (55 MWe) in 1983. The plant started operation in 1969 as the first Dutch nuclear energy plant. GKN's activities were initially limited to operation and maintenance of the plant, while non-technical activities were handled by KEMA. In October 1979, a reorganization expanded the organization. In 1984, GKN joined COVRA. Until the introduction of the Electricity Act 1989, GKN was an independent production company. On 26 October 1989, all shares of GKN were transferred from regional, provincial, and municipal electricity producers to SEP, because its capacity was much lower than the required minimum of 2500 MW. SEP became the sole shareholder, and GKN's Supervisory Board was replaced by an Advisory Board. In 2001, following the privatization of SEP, ownership passed to its successor, B.V. Nederlands Elektriciteit Administratiekantoor (NEA). The operation of the nuclear plant was expensive, costing up to seventy million guilders per year, and after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, more than ninety million guilders were invested to adapt the plant to new safety requirements. Electricity production ceased in 1997. GKN then decommissioned the plant and placed it into safe enclosure in 2005, a 40-year monitoring period before final dismantling, expected around 2045. The safe enclosure is managed by three technicians. In 2021, GKN received technical approval from the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) for its decommissioning plan.

• 2021

  GKN receives technical approval for decommissioning plan from ANVS.

• 2005

  Plant enters safe enclosure for a 40-year period.

• 2001

  Ownership passes to NEA after privatization of SEP.

• 1997

  Electricity production at Dodewaard ceases.

• 1989

  All shares transferred to SEP on 26 October due to Electricity Act 1989.

• 1969

  Kerncentrale Dodewaard becomes the first Dutch nuclear power plant in operation.

• 1965

  GKN founded on 2 February by joint Dutch electricity producers.

• 1965

  Construction of Kerncentrale Dodewaard begins on 25 February.

A specialized nuclear energy company focused on the safe enclosure and decommissioning of the Dodewaard nuclear power plant.

• Kerncentrale Dodewaard (KCD)

  First Dutch nuclear power plant, operated from 1969 to 1997, now in safe enclosure.

1. 1GKN: kerncentrale Dodewaard - COVRA N.V.covra.nl
2. 2Corporate governance - COVRA N.V.covra.nl
3. 3Gemeenschappelijke Kernenergiecentrale Nederland - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Gemeenschappelijke Kernenergiecentrale Nederland - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org