Ireland Seeks End To Nuclear Reprocessing At British Plant

CIVIL NUCLEAR

Roche raised Ireland's continuing concerns following a leak that was discovered earlier this year at Sellafield's (pictured) Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant on the northwest English coast, facing Ireland.

Dublin (AFP) Oct 19, 2005
The Irish government wants nuclear reprocessing ended at Britain's Sellafield complex on the Irish Sea coast of England, Environment Minister Dick Roche said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement followed a meeting in London between Roche and Britain's Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson.

Roche raised Ireland's continuing concerns following a leak that was discovered earlier this year at Sellafield's Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) on the northwest English coast, facing Ireland.

Roche said the leak from a pipe at the plant resulted in a spillage into a secondary containment facility of 83 cubic metres (2,900 cubic feet) of "highly radioactive" liquid.

He described it as "another chapter in the ongoing Sellafield cycle of failure" that was untenable.

"A serious incident occurs, the investigation reveals serious safety failures and weaknesses, recommendations are drawn up and implemented, and further assurances given that the plant is safe.

"This serious incident provides further overwhelming evidence that it is time the UK took the hard decisions necessary to secure the safety and security of populations on both sides of the Irish Sea by bringing an end to reprocessing".

Roche said he welcomed confirmation the operation of THORP was being reviewed.

"But I conveyed in the strongest possible term the views of the Irish government that reprocessing must be brought to an end," the statement said.

"Reprocessing is unwelcome, environmentally untenable and compromises safety and security on both sides of the Irish Sea."

CIVIL NUCLEAR

US Support For India's Nuclear Programme Is A One-Off: Official

Paris (AFP) Oct 19, 2005
Washington's moves to cooperate with India in developing nuclear energy is a one-off situation based on India's "responsible" track record which sets it apart from other aspiring nuclear powers, a senior US official said Wednesday.

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