EU Insists On Shutdown Of Unsafe Nuclear Reactors

CIVIL NUCLEAR

At the control face of Eastern Europe's nuclear energy disaster

Brussels (AFP) Apr 23, 2002
The European Commission issued a blunt warning to EU candidate countries Wednesday not to delay the shutdown of nuclear power stations that are deemed to be unsafe.

"In accession talks, the European Commission will be firm with regards to the shut-down dates" for a total of eight reactors in candidate countries, EU Transport and Energy Commissioner Loyola de Palacio said.

"For my part, I've asked that agreements (regarding the shutdowns) be included in the accession agreements", she said. Brussels hopes to conclude such agreements with as many as 10 candidate countries by the end of 2002.

De Palacio's statement, before the European Parliament's industry and energy committee, came as Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said that due to social and technical problems his country could not close down its Chernobyl-type Ignalina nuclear power station by 2009 as demanded by the EU.

Ignalina produces about 70 percent of Lithuania's energy.

The European Commission is also insisting that Bulgaria shut down four ageing reactors at its sole nuclear power plant by 2006, rebuffing protests and proposals by Sofia to delay the closures.

The Czech Republic is meanwhile going ahead with a second reactor at its Soviet-designed Temelin power station, despite fierce protests from neighboring EU member state Austria.

And Armenia, which is not a candidate country, is balking at an EU recommendation that it should close down a nuclear power plant by 2004, arguing that it could remain in operation until 2016.

De Palacio said the current state of nuclear safety in Europe was "insufficient" to the point that regulations for swimming beaches were tougher than those for nuclear power stations.

Concern over nuclear power in Europe stems from the April 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the Ukraine, which sent a cloud of radioactive matter drifting over western Europe.

Lithuania Will Not Be Able To Close Nuclear Plant By 2009: President Vilnius (AFP) Apr 23, 2002 Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus said Tuesday that his country could not close down its Chernobyl-type Ignalina nuclear power station by 2009 as demanded by the European Union due to social and technical problems.

"It is not just a technical step when we switch off the reactors, lock the doors and leave," Adamkus said at a news conference.

"We shall also face social problems as we speak about thousands of specialists working there," he said.

"This is a complex problem and I do not see a practical possibility for solving it in such a short time," he said.

Lithuania, as a part of its preparations for EU membership, has comitted to shutting down the first of two units at Ignalina by 2005 and plans to propose a tentative date for complete closure of the plant in the near future.

The EU wants the second unit shut down by 2009 and has warned Lithuania it will not close membership negotiations this year unless a firm date is set.

But Adamkus said Lithuania was not ready to commit to exact terms for the Ignalina closure.

"I think we should not make obligations on some date, like 2009, which has to my knowledge has no clear logic, and should think what will happen if we would be able to do it only in 2011?" Adamkus said.

"I do not want Europe to accuse Lithuania of being unfair and not keeping it's word, but I want this problem to be solved to the satisfaction of the Lithuanian people and Europe," he added.

The EU considers the design of Ignalina's Soviet-built RBMK reactors unsafe despite the spending of some 250 million euros (222 million dollars) over the past decade to improve security at the plant.

A study by the Lithuanian government has put the estimated cost of closing the Ignalina plant at up to three billion euros (2.7 billion dollars).

Ignalina produces about 70 percent of Lithuania's energy.

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CIVIL NUCLEAR

Japan's Government Approves Report That MOX Fuel Is Safe

Tokyo (AFP) April 9, 2002
The Japanese government approved an advisory report Tuesday that it is safe to use plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel at nuclear plants, despite simmering public concerns over the method.

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