Reconsider Jaitapur N-Project: Greenpeace
Alleging that the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power
project was based on a questionable technology, leading international
NGO Greenpeace today urged the union government to reconsider it.
"After
the Fukushima incident, several countries are reviewing their safety
policies. We are already seeing countries pulling out of or freezing
their nuclear plans, including China. Thus it is all the more relevant
for India to reconsider the Jaitapur project," the Greenpeace Indian
Nuclear Energy Campaigner Karuna Raina told reporters here.
"The
European Pressurised water Reactor EPR) technology is based on the same
principle as older reactors and, being more powerful, presents even more
potential for catastrophe," claims Yves Marignac, an international
consultant on nuclear and energy who spoke from France in a video
conference.
"Its safety features are more complex but rely on the
same confidence of engineers in their 'probabilistic approach' that has
just taken a severe beating in Japan," he said.
Raina said that
two top German banks-Deutsch Bank and Commerz Bank, which had earlier
considered financing the Jaitapur project have decided to cancel their
participation.
The international NGO had also written letters to
the consortium of banks including BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Societe
Generale, Natixis and HSBC last year to reconsider their decision to
finance the project.
"We have not received reply from the banks. But we understand that they are reviewing the matter," Raina said..
She
also mentioned that the Export Guarantor of this international
consortium of banks is reviewing the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
of Jaitapur project as also nuclear waste disposal capability of India
and local opposition through two international consultants.
Raina
said that early this year, India's Nuclear Power Corporation (NPCIL)
invited over a dozen large banks from around the world to participate in
financing the Jaitapur project.
"The fact that Jaitapur is located on a seismic zone is of grave concern to Banks", she claimed.
Speaking
from Japan, Jan Beranek, Head of the Nuclear Energy Campaign for
Greenpeace International addressed the international developments in the
wake of the 'nuclear emergency' in Japan.
"There is a growing
acceptance of the fact that nuclear technology is inherently dangerous.
The world can now take a step to stop a 'nuclear renaissance' that can
lead to grave disasters and choose sustainable energy instead," he said.
"The contention that nuclear energy is seen as a possible solution to the climate crisis is false, " he said.
Greenpeace propagated for alternate energy sources and said the share of energy from coal and nuclear should be reduced.