The mixed plutonium and uranium oxide (MOX) plant at Sellafield took another step closer to starting operations today when environmental groups Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace lost their bid to block its opening.
But the groups were claiming a partial victory in their appeal against a British High Court ruling on November 15th that the British government had made "no error of law" in giving the go-ahead for the opening of the MOX plant.
Executive Director of Friends of the Earth Mr Charles Secrett said, under the new ruling, before any new nuclear project can go ahead the construction and other capital costs will have to be taken into account when deciding if the practice is economically beneficial.
"We’re pleased that the Appeal Court has overturned the worst features of the High Court judgment. But we’re angry that this pointless, dangerous and uneconomic MOX plant is still on course to open. Nobody wants MOX and nobody needs it," he said.
"It will simply encourage nuclear proliferation, increase nuclear pollution and threaten public safety. It’s not too late for the government to see sense over MOX and change its mind".
Today’s ruling follows the decision by the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on December 3rd. It allows the British government to begin operations at the plant after a case was taken by the |Irish Government.
The tribunal allowed production of MOX if the British government gave detailed plans on how it intends to monitor the risks and effects of the operation on the environment.
Additional reporting PA