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Nuclear Transparency Watch

Prevent and anticipate through transparency and participation

Useful documents

“The legacy of Nuclear Power” by Prof.Andrew Bowers, book review and interview by Jan Haverkamp

In september 2016, Andrew Blowers, Emeritus Professor of Social Sciences at the Open University published « The Legacy of Nuclear Power ».  Nuclear energy leaves behind a dangerous legacy of radioactive wastes in places that are remote and polluted landscapes of risk. Four of these places – Hanford (USA) where the plutonium for the first atomic bombs was made, Sellafield, where the UK’s nuclear legacy is concentrated and controversial, La Hague the heart of the French nuclear industry, and Gorleben, the focal point of nuclear resistance in Germany – provide the narratives for this unique account of the legacy of nuclear power. The Legacy of Nuclear Power takes a historical and geographical perspective going back to the origins of these places. The case studies are based on a variety of academic and policy sources and on conversations with a vast array of people over many years.

Jan Haverkamp is Vice-Chair of Nuclear Transparency Watch. He’s an expert consultant on nuclear energy and energy policy for WISE, Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, Greenpeace Switzerland. In mai 2017, he published a book  review in Nuclear Monitor #843 : “The Legacy of Nuclear Power is a book about nuclear waste. But different than most, the retired UK Open University professor Andy Blowers does not approach the issue from the side the techniques under investigation to manage it. His basis is the story of five nuclear legacy sites (note: Hanford, Sellafield, La Hague, Bure and Gorleben) but analysed from the experiences of the communities who live there.” 

« The leading line is the discovery that the nuclear legacy appears to be connected to peripheral places – mostly peripheral in a geographic sense, lowly populated, but also economically weak, becoming depending on a from the outside imposed nuclear mono-culture »

Find the full review on Wise Monitor here.

Jan Haverkamp also interviewed Prof.Andrew Blowers to explore the issues of the book more in detail. This interview is a reflection on what drove Andrew Blowers to dedicate over 30 years of this life to the issue of radioactive waste and the nuclear legacy.

Find the full interview on Wise Monitor here.

 

legacy of nuclear power

The Legacy of Nuclear Power, by Andrew Blowers

Routledge, Tayler & Francis Group.

Available in hard cover, paperback and as e-book (epub) : www.routledge.com/The-Legacy-of-Nuclear-Power/Blowers/p/book/9780415869997

The application of the Espoo Convention to nuclear energy-related activities

The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) sets out the obligations to assess the environmental impact of certain activities at an early stage of decision making. It also lays down the general obligation for parties to notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that are likely to have a significant adverse environmental impact across national borders. The purpose of the Espoo Convention is to enhance international co‑operation and allow environmentally sound decisions to be made, paying careful attention to minimising significant adverse impacts, particularly in a transboundary context.

See a complete article in the Nuclear Law Bulletin for information on the relevant provisions of the Espoo Convention applicable to nuclear energy-related activities.

Documents from the German Commission on Radiological Protection

Two interesting documents communicated by NTW’s German members working on emergency preparedness and response, published by the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK).

–Planning areas for emergency response near nuclear power plants

– Basic Radiological Principles for Decisions on Measures for the Protection of the Population against Incidents involving Releases of Radionuclides

As well as a website with the results of the German gamma dose rate measurement network operated by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz).

SSK

Nuclear power plants in Europe

As of January 2013 there is a total of 185 nuclear power plant units with an installed electric net capacity of 162 GWe in operation in Europe (five thereof in the Asian part of the Russian Federation) and 17 units with an electric net capacity 15 GWe were under construction in five countries.

Nuclear power plants in Europe, in operation and under construction (2013) :

Country

in operation

under construction

number

net capacity MWe

number

net capacity MWe
Belgium

7

5,927
–
–
Bulgaria

2

1,906

–

–
Czech Repuplic

6

3,766
–
–
Finland

4

2,736

1

1,600
France

58

63,130

1

1,600
Germany

9

12,068
–
–
Hungary

4

1,889
–
–
Netherlands

1

482
–
–
Romania

2

1,300

–

–
Russian Federation

33

23,643

11

9,297
Slovakian Republic

4

1,816

2

782
Slovenia

1

688
–
–
Spain

8

7,567
–
–
Sweden

10

9,395
–
–
Switzerland

5

3,263
–
–
Ukraine

15

13,107

2

1,900
United Kingdom

15

9,246
–
–
total

185

161,922

17

15,179

 

In terms of electricity generated by nuclear energy in 2011 France holds the top position with a share of 77.7 % followed by Belgium and the Slovakian Republic with 54.0 % and Ukraine with 47.2 %.

Nuclear power plants in operation in Europe
Nuclear power plants in operation in Europe (2013)

Position of the nuclear power plants in Europe

With 85 nuclear power plants and 159 reactors in operation, which represent one third of the global fleet, Europe has the most important nuclear fleet in the world.

Position of nuclear power plants in Europe
Position of nuclear power plants in Europe (2011)

Afficher Position of the nuclear power plants in Europe on a larger map

Map of Nuclear Power Plants in Europe (Source : Secrétariat Général de la défense et de la Sécurité National Française)
Map of Nuclear Power Plants in Europe (Source : Secrétariat Général de la défense et de la Sécurité National Française)

Critical Review of the Swedish Stress Tests Report

Report by Oda Becker

The following report presents a review of the Swedish NPPs based on national stress tests report as well as on the country stress tests report [ENSREG 2012]. The review details the main weaknesses identified by operators, national regulator and peer review team. Some of the suggested remedial measures are also listed. Important shortcomings not mentioned in the stress tests reports are also discussed. Those evaluations do not claim to be exhaustive, but it is hoped that the findings will contribute to a more complete understanding of nuclear power plant safety in Sweden.

Please download full report here

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