MANNON/ISLE OF MAN: SELLAFIELD - OPPOSITION RESTATED BY MANX GOVERNMENT

Rapport publié le 18/04/09 10:14 dans Environnement par Cathal Ó Luain pour Cathal Ó Luain

Hon John Shimmin MHK (above) said to the BBC about Sellafied nuclear plant: "That has happened in the past and we would like to think it won't happen in the future but the track record says that is a danger"

The Manx government has restated its opposition to Sellafield and indicated its continuing commitment to seek the closure of the Plant.

Speaking to the BBC the Isle of Man governments environment Minister , John Shimmin MHK, said that whilst the most recent recorded leak at the plant was in 2005:

«That has happened in the past and we would like to think it won't happen in the future but the track record says that is a danger»

This weeks confirmation on continuing concern comes in the same week that the UK has announced it is pressing ahead with plans to site a new generation of nuclear plants around the Irish sea.

Sellafield does not pump out the level of pollutants that it has done in previous decades but worryingly (as we reported in Celtic News 2917) levels of pollution have - on the basis of most recent data increased marginally.

The latest data from the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) shows that both Caesium 137 and Technetium 99 discharges from the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant show increases. Indeed the recorded level for Caesium 137 also exceeds the 2005 reading.

Shimmin also reiterated the Isle of Mans determination to continue to work with other jurisdictions such as Ireland which oppose Sellafield and it will be interesting to see in the coming months if this welcome statement is translated into tangible action and is not simply rhetoric.