4/01 Licence for Belgian Plut Fuel Factory Found Illegal

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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     LICENCE FOR BELGIAN PLUTONIUM FUEL FACTORY FOUND ILLEGAL; 
      GREENPEACE HAILS LEGAL VICTORY OVER NUCLEAR INDUSTRY  

 
BRUSSELS, 1 April, 1996 (GP) - In response to a legal case
brought by Greenpeace, the Advocate General of Belgium has
ruled that a license for a new plutonium fuel factory is
illegitimate due to incorrect licensing procedures. The
decision is likely to block construction of the plant and has
been hailed by Greenpeace as a major victory for commonsense
and the cause of nuclear non proliferation.
 
"This proves that the Belgian plutonium industry is not above
the law," said n de Putte of Greenpeace Belgium.  "Stopping
this dangerous and ill-conceived plant is a matter of public
health and safety.  Ultimately, this is a major victory for
the cause of nuclear non-proliferation and international
security."
 
The Belgian Advocate General, Mr.J.Baert, made his ruling
public in a March 19th letter addressed to Greenpeace. 
Specifically, the Advocate General found in favour of
Greenpeace.

 
The decision will now be referred to the Belgian Supreme Court
for an ultimate decision on the case.  No date has been set
for the Supreme Court hearing, which is likely to follow the
recommendation of the Advocate General.
 
The original court case was brought by Greenpeace Belgium in
1992.  It argued that local authorities of the municipalities
of Mol and Dessel, where the plant was to be located, were not
able to fully use their legal right to give an opinion on the
construction of a new plutonium MOX plant.
 
Since the case was filed, no construction at the factory site
has been allowed.  The factory in question, known as "P-1",
was to produce nuclear reactor fuel containing a
plutonium/uranium oxide mixture known as MOX.  The factory was
to be built in Dessel, Belgium at the Mol nuclear site.  It
was to have produced some 35 tonnes of MOX fuel per year for
potential clients in Belgium, France, Germany and Japan.  The
legal ruling is therefore a humiliating defeat which calls
into question the viability of Belgonucleaire's negotiations
with domestic and foreign MOX clients.
 
In recent weeks it has revealed that the Japanese utility
Tokyo Electric Power Corporation (TEPCO) and Toshiba of Japan
signed a contract in April 1995 for the supply of MOX fromthe
Belgian/French consortium COMMOX.Greenpeace believe that the
MOX will be supplied by Belgonucleaire~s existing MOX
plant,~P-O~.
                              -more-
As MOX plants handle tremendous quantities of highly
radiotoxic plutonium, considerable concerns have been raised
about worker and   public health and safety around such
factories.  As this plutonium, in separate or MOX forms,  is
directly usable for nuclear weapons purposes, MOX plants,
storage sites, and their related transports are seen as a
major nuclear proliferation threat.
 
"This victory has significant implications for the future of
the international plutonium industry," said Damon Moglen of
Greenpeace International.  "The plutonium industry has only
survived through secrecy and side-stepping public review and
process.  This ruling shows that the industry must now operate
legally and in public."  
Greenpeace campaigns internationally against the plutonium
industry as both an environmental and non-proliferation
initiative.
                               -END-
Contact:
Jan vande Putte, Greenpeace Belgium: +322-201-1944
Shaun Burnie, Greenpeace International: +3120-523-6222
Damon Moglen, Greenpeace International in DC: +1202-319-2513

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