Chernobyl Day

The Greens deplore plans to resurrect Soviet nuclear ghosts in Slovakia

As the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe approaches on 26 April, Green MEP Rebecca Harms comments on plans to complete construction of two Soviet-designed nuclear reactors in Slovakia:
 
"Energy Commissioner Piebalgs must put a swift end to plans to build nuclear reactors in Slovakia on the basis of antiquated, unsafe Soviet technology and a 20 year old construction license. A positive opinion of the Commission on the completion of the construction of the Mochovce reactors 3+4 would be a scandal and further evidence of the Commission's complicity with a big energy utility.

Construction of these two reactors in the former Czechoslovakia started in the mid 80s. Now, 20 years after the original permit was issued and 15 years after work was halted due to lack of funding, Italian energy giant Enel wants to take up construction of the final two reactors.

Design and construction standards for Mochovce fall far short of current international levels and even the Slovak nuclear authorities and the project leaders admit only limited structural improvements can be incorporated at this stage. The Soviet Generation II reactor type in the plans was designed in the 1970s, long before the devastating Chernobyl catastrophe that occurred on 26 April 1986 and the harsh lessons that followed. Crucial safety features are missing, such as modern containment capable of resisting accidental radioactivity leakage, terror attacks or plane crashes. This should be enough reason for the Commission to send a clear "No" to the Slovak government and Enel.

The legal basis is also shaky and smacks of Soviet nuclear policy. The construction licence was granted over 20 years ago without proper environmental impact assessment, without proper public consultation or consultation of the neighbouring states and at a time when nuclear authorities were not independent.

Even the economic arguments are unsound. Several studies have concluded that the project would be unprofitable or at least economically risky. The Slovak government's shameful response has been to reduce Enel's financial contribution, leaving Slovak energy consumers to pick up the bill for decades of mismanagement.

A green light to Soviet reactors designed in the 70s in Europe in the 21st Century would be scandalous. The European Commission must put safety before the interests of big business in the field of nuclear energy and say no to the planned construction of reactors in Mochovce."

Donwload the briefing on Mochovce (pdf)
Download the e-card (pdf) on "The ghosts of Soviet Nuclear"
Documentary film "The ghosts of Soviet Nuclear - The case of Mochovce"

See also:

"Chernobyl-day" website

The complaint by Greenpeace on competition issues in the Mochovce project:
part 1 (pdf)
part 2 (pdf)

Cyberaction by Friends of the Earth Europe on Mochovce 3+4