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[Unofficial translation of the French Press Release]
Réseau "Sortir du Nucleaire "/ (Network phasing out the nuclear age )
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org
Press Release
04 February 2009
Announcement of the sale of 2 to 6 EPR reactors to India: le Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire" denounces the bloated claims meant to bluff
- A simple "Memorandum of Understanding" signed by Areva in New Delhi
- Big talk but in fact only one EPR exported
- Bluff to "justify" the sale of EPR to France ...
- India in the process is strengthening its overriding status offered by Bush
Le Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire" contest claims of alleged sales of nuclear reactors in foreign countries, as the supposed sale of wednesday February 4 from two to six EPR’s to India.
In reality, this is only the signing of a memorandum of understanding that does not engage India. Nuclear power requires huge financial investments for power generation eight to ten years later and a return on investment after 30 years. Such investments, already difficult to program before the global financial crisis, are even more unlikely now.
What is the current situation of EPR reactors?
— A single EPR was exported to Finland, which is regretting now - launched in February 2005, the construction has had 38 months of delays to date - and asked for 2.4 billion euros in penalties to be paid ... by the French. Sold at 3 billion euros, reactor therefore actually cost 5.4 billion ... pending further costs.
— An EPR has been sold ... to France. Located in Flamanville (Manche), the construction of this reactor, which was launched in December 2007, almost one year behind schedule and its price has risen from 3.3 billion to 4 billion, but all leads point to a cost of 5 or 6 billion ... or more.
— Two EPR supposedly sold to China remains to this day at the drafting stage. Only at the site of Taishan leveling and foundation laying took place in late 2008. But while the global economic crisis hits China and other countries, it is quite possible that these contraptions never see the day.
All other EPR announced to date are only ‘virtual’
— Great Britain: EDF spent a fortune (15 billion) to buy British Energy ... just before the global crisis. "Only" it needs now to find the money to build the EPR ...
— USA: idem, EDF has paid a high price ($ 5 billion) to buy 50% of the nuclear activities of Constellation Energy Group, that fell early in the crisis in the hands of billionaire Buffet, who re-sold it to EDF at a hefty price. Again, there is "only" to EDF to finance EPR ...
— South Africa: headline in Le Figaro on 15 September 2008 " Giant contract in view for Areva.†On the menu: two EPR and then another 10. However, on December 5, South Africa ... has canceled all its nuclear projects.
— Rest of World: Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Niger, etc.: many trips of M Sarkozy, but no EPR order despite the announcements of possibilities...
Why so much sales hype . . . the truth will eventually surface?
In suggesting that many EPR reactors are sold abroad, political leaders and French manufacturers give the impression that the French nuclear industry is effective and that the construction of EPR in France is justified. For example, France sells EPR ... to France. Flamanville (Manche), Penly (Seine-Maritime), and perhaps a third announced shortly by the Elysée. It’s a race to build the reactors in France before the public can take notice that most other countries have been diverted away from the atom ...
What is the interest of India to participate in this bluff making coup?
Having not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty, India is theoretically excluded from any nuclear transaction. In his final weeks, the Bush administration made various maneuvers and pressures that India gets exemptions from the International Energy Agency (IAEA) and NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group), at the detriment of the fight against nuclear proliferation. But this new status is precarious and could be challenged by the Obama administration. By signing a memorandum of understanding with Areva, India is strengthening its position and tries to make irreversible the exemptions it enjoys. But this does not mean that India will buy really EPR from France ...
NB: See attached for the construction of an EPR is both absurd and unlawful.
Appendix to the press release on Wednesday 4 February 2009
The construction of an EPR is at once absurd and illegitimate
Democracy
The announcement of a new EPR at Penly (Seine-Maritime) violates the commitments made at the official Public Debate (November 2005 - February 2006) on the first French EPR currently under construction in Flamanville (Manche). Indeed, it was explicitly written by EDF that the first EPR was designed "to gain solid experience in construction and operation of these new generation reactors and to be ready at the time for the renewal of nuclear power plants" Clearly, it was to operate the reactor before deciding to proceed or not with others. However, the construction of the first EPR is only the beginning: who can claim to have today a solid experience in construction and operation of EPR?
Jobs
In addition, the Network "Sortir du nucléaire" disputes the claims of Gadonneix M (CEO of EDF) who claims that the construction of this reactor would be "good news for employment." The reality is exactly the opposite in fact: studies show that, for an equal investment, energy saving and renewable energy create 15 times more jobs than nuclear (**).
Thus, after having long supported nuclear power, the powerful German trade union IG Metall has castigated "aging and backward technology" through the voice of one of its leaders, Hartmut Meine, who spoke as part of an event against the transport of radioactive waste on 9 November. This conversion is explained easily: in a few years renewable energy has created 250 000 jobs in Germany, which is increasing constantly. By comparison, after 50 years of massive investment, nuclear employs less than 100 000 people in France.
Renewable Energy
The project to build new EPR is not only irresponsible to the environment, it is also absurd in economic terms. More than ever, "Nuclear France" is on a wrong path: Just a few days ago on 26 January, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) was formally established by fifty countries, including Germany, Spain and Denmark, which have long-standing commitment to support green energy. France, tried everything to prevent the birth of this organization and participated at the tip of the toe.
It must be said that the construction of a new EPR prevent France to respect its commitment to Europe of 23% of renewables in final energy consumption in 2020. Moreover, the cold wave this winter has shown that France lacked the means of such production: therefore it should not more nuclear (which produces its base energy).
Act
Faced with this new show of force, Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire" will file law suits against the authorizations for the construction of the new EPR announced for Penly (Seine-Maritime). Similarly, the Network expects the verdict of the State Council (The French Supreme Court) on its proceedings against the construction of the EPR Flamanville. In this regard, the incredible industrial and financial difficulties encountered by Areva and EDF on their respective EPR sites entail heavy costs (already at least 2.5 billion euros in Finland and nearly a billion in Flamanville) that will be covered by the French. It is therefore essential to permanently stop, the site of the EPR Flamanville. (The Finns would do well to do the same on their side).
The nuclear industry is from the past century, it is dangerous and archaic, expensive and polluting. The future is energy saving and in developing clean and renewable energies.
(*) http://www.debatpublic-epr.org/docs/pdf/dossier_mo/synthese_dossier_mo.pdf
(**) See Study "An alternating current for the Grand West", April 2006
Permanent URL to the original press release in French:
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/actualites/communiques/affiche.php?aff=514
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(An unofficial translation into English by Harsh Kapoor; with apologies for any errors )
