GREENPEACE: EUROPEAN UNION EXAMINES LIFE TIME EXTENSION FOR CHERNOBYL TYPE REACTORS

26 April 2001

Brussels - The European Commission is considering working with Russia to extend the life of Chernobyl-type nuclear reactors across Europe in a complete reversal of the previous EU policy of phasing out such reactors as soon as possible, according to confidential documents released by Greenpeace today.

The minutes of a EU Russian expert energy group, contained in an April 4 letter from General Director of Transport and Energy, Francois Lamoureux, proposes in the nuclear energy sector : "… international co-operation promoting the rehabilitation of first generation units and the development of fast breeder reactors with radiation-equivalent waste disposal, as well as technical support for non-proliferation."

Russia has currently 15 "first generation" reactors operable: 11 RBMK or "Chernobyl type" reactors at St Petersburg, Smolensk and Kursk as well as 4 VVER 440/230 reactors at Novovoronezh and Kola. So far it has been consensus among all EU and G7 countries, that these reactors have inherent deficiencies and must therefore be considered as "non-upgradeable" or "high-risk reactors".

"The EU's latest plans mean a slap into the face of the thousands of victims of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe," said Tobias Muenchmeyer, nuclear expert of Greenpeace International. (April 26, is the 15th anniversary of the Chenrobyl nuclear disaster) "These considerations represent a 180 degrees turn from the earlier EU position to phase-out first generation reactors as soon as possible and would clearly undermine all EU efforts for an early closure for the first generation reactors at Ignalina (Lithuania), Kosloduy (Bulgaria) and Bohunice (Slovakia)."

The oldest two RBMK reactors near St. Petersburg have been in operation since 1974 and 1976 and are due to close in 2001 and 2002. A "rehabilitation" of these extremely dangerous units with EU support would lead to an extension of their lifetime - and increase the risk of a serious nuclear accident.

Since 1991 no new nuclear reactor has been ordered in any EU country and seven of the EU's 15 member states are non-nuclear while another 4 (Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands) are in a process of phasing-out nuclear power.

Currently the European Commission is also considering increasing the ceiling for Euratom loans for Eastern European nuclear projects by another EUR 2 billion. Also the EUR 1.23 billion worth Euratom R&D budget as well as the budgets for the Euratom Supply Agency and for the Euratom Safeguards Directorate are massive.

"The considerations on extending Chernobyl type reactors comes at a time when the cash-strapped European nuclear industry is trying to squeeze out billions from the EU budget from all possible sides by referring to the most anachronistic Euratom treaty. The Euratom treaty is from another age and needs to be abandoned immediately," said Muenchmeyer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

- Tobias Muenchmeyer, Greenpeace International Nuclear Campaigner, +49 30 440 58 960 or Jon Walter +31 653504731

Read the Greenpeace briefing: Chernobyl closes – but the deadly legacy goes on