Questions are being asked about the safety of the new nuclear reactor designs.

The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) have written to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) about alarming allegations made by the French nuclear group ‘Sortir du Nucleaire’ (French Network for Nuclear Phase-out) over the safety of the proposed European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) design by EDF / Areva (1).

This comes after the NII have publicly raised issues over the other nominated design for new nuclear reactors in the UK.

In a press release issued on the 8th March, Sortir de Nucleaire allege that they have received documents from an insider working in EDF, the French company planning to build a number of nuclear reactors in the UK using the EPR design.

Sortir de Nucleaire claims the documents 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. Because it
is potentially vulnerable to a situation which could have uncontrollable consequences, the EPR reactor is extremely dangerous.’

The Sortir de Nucleaire press release also notes that they have asked a number of experts to comment on the documents. The experts are quoted in the press release as follows:

Some operating modes could cause the EPR reactor to explode because of a control rod cluster ejection accident (these control rod clusters moderate the nuclear reaction).

These operating modes are mainly related to an objective of economic efficiency, requiring the power of the reactor to adapt to electricity demand. Thus, in order to find a hypothetical
economic justification for the EPR, its designers chose to take the very real risk of a major nuclear accident.

Moreover, most of the arguments given in favour of the EPR (power, efficiency, waste reduction and safety)have been proved to be false.

EDF and Areva (the leader of the French nuclear industry) have tried to find a solution to the problems related to the operating mode of the reactor: these efforts have failed preventing those kinds of accidents.

The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) has apparently been kept in the dark about these issues.

So the EPR reactor design seems to increase the risk of a Chernobyl-type accident, which would lead to the destruction of the confinement and mass dispersion of radionuclides in the atmosphere.

The NFLA are asking the NII to look at these documents and also discuss the matter with the French nuclear regulator ASN to clarify the veracity of the allegations and whether this puts into doubt approval for the EPR design.

On February 17th 2010 media reports also noted that the NII had written to the other potential nuclear reactor design being considered for UK new nuclear power stations, Westinghouse, seeking clarification on whether the AP1000 design could ‘withstand an external shock, such as an earthquake, extreme weather or a strike from an aircraft.’

The media report also noted that the Chief Executive of Westinghouse acknowledged that a ‘significant amount of work needs to be done’ before a licence is approved by the NII.

NFLA Chair, Bailie George Regan, commented: “I am greatly concerned by the suggestion that the EDF EPR design could be seriously flawed.

“We are writing to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as a matter of urgency to ask them to follow up these very serious allegations and check the accuracy of them.

“With the concerns also over the AP1000 design 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.

“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.”

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