The Czech power utility CEZ said on Monday that Western European power
companies, faced with a shortage of skilled technicians and amid
expectations of a nuclear power renaissance, are headhunting Czech
nuclear power experts. A CEZ spokesman said that many western European
countries had run down their nuclear industries and now lacked the
necessary experts. The head of the Czech Nuclear Society, Vaclav Hanus,
said that some new graduates in nuclear subjects had already taken up
offers in Britain. He said British companies were prepared to offer
10,000 pounds (18,400 dollars) as a welcome bonus to new recruits. CEZ,
which operates two nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, says it
sees the situation as a threat.