UK warned reactor flaws could cause Chernobyl-type disaster
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, March 10, IRNA -- Local authorities have raised fears of a Chernobyl-type disaster happening in the future in the UK following new concerns over design flaws in a new generation of nuclear reactors.
Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) have written to the government watchdog, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, about fresh safety concerns regarding plans to build proposed French-designed European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs).
“I am greatly concerned by the suggestion that the EDF EPR design could be seriously flawed,” said NFLA chair, Bailie George Regan.
“It confirms to me that we could be taking some very serious risks if we go ahead with a new nuclear build programme in the UK,” Regan warned.
Concerns were raised by the French nuclear group ‘Sortir du Nucleaire’ (French Network for Nuclear Phase-out) over the safety of the proposed EPR design, which will be used to build a number of nuclear reactors in the UK.
Sortir du Nucleaire said in a press release that they had received documents from an insider working in EDF that show "the design of the EPR presents a serious risk of a major nuclear accident - a risk deliberately taken by EDF to increase its profitability.”
"Unless these reports can be seriously countered and dismissed I am of the view that we should not go for nuclear power but choose safe, sustainable renewable energy alternatives,” Regan said.
NFLA is a network of some 70 member councils in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland seeking a nuclear free policy as well as being opposed to the UK spending billions on replacing its nuclear missiles.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1005469
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