The Government must step up opposition to the opening of the Sellafield mixed oxide fuel (MOX) nuclear plant, according to Green MEP Ms Nuala Ahern.
Speculation about the BNFL plant's future mode of operation is intensifying following doubts over contracts with international customers.
Commenting on the tabling of a motion in Westminster by 16 MPs calling on the British government to cease the production of plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel at Sellafield, Ms Ahern said nothing less than closure would be acceptable. The MPs claim production of MOX would be uneconomic, unsustainable and dangerous because the plutonium would still be accessible for use in nuclear weapons. They are calling for Britain to immobilise all plutoni um and store it as nuclear waste.
Their motion calls on the BNFL to explore plutonium immobilisation techniques other than MOX as the best means of saving jobs at Sellafield.
They note difficulties caused by the falsification of data by BNFL in respect of recent consignments of MOX fuel, and doubts cast by these events on the future of MOX fuel - as evidenced by the lack of contracts secured by BNFL. The Government should be on top of any proposals which would sustain the MOX plant, Ms Ahern said. It was clear, she added, that "Ireland's preferred option is simply that the MOX plant should remain closed, and the reprocessing of plutonium at Sellafield should be stopped".
The Japanese nuclear company Kansai recently cancelled MOX orders until further notice, jeopardising the opening of the new £400 million MOX plant and raising the prospect of returning the only shipment of the fuel which has arrived in Japan.
Full cancellation of such orders would be a severe blow to the British government's plans to raise up to £2 billion through the partial privatisation of BNFL early next year, the long-term prospects for Sellafield depending on winning MOX plant business.
MOX fuel production has been developed by BNFL as a way of re-using the plutonium it separates from nuclear waste imported to Britain. BNFL is awaiting Government approval to go into full production.
Supporters of the motion include MPs from the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats (including their environment and energy spokesmen), the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru and the Scottish Nationalist party.
