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The case of the Temelin nuclear power plant

A showy gesture. Sit the German guests are two of the most important Czech energy of Representatives against Dana Drábová , president of the state nuclear safety authority, and Temelín power plant director Miloš Stepanovsky . imagine a detailed discussion Brigitte Altman, Green Party district chairman in the Upper Franconian Wunsiedel , praised the "very different atmosphere than a year ago. " Even then, German, Austrian and Czech environmental activists had viewed the information center of the plant - and Abschaltpläne forged for Temelín 1 and 2, but also for all other nuclear units in the Czech Republic.
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he Temelín nuclear power plant 1 was launched nearly ten years ago.Many mishaps are documented, the youngest just last week. Of course, "insignificant and without any impact on the environment," as the parastatal operator CEZ once again affirmed.

The Jan Haverkamp from the environmental organization Greenpeace looks completely different. The Dutchman with Czech roots has been fighting for more than a decade against Temelin. Because a weld Haverkamp has sued by Czech courts. "In 2010, the Constitutional Court made the fourth decision against us," he is angry. Still, he insists, to find out whether really in Temelín 1, a first pipe installed incorrectly, then sawed off, turned and been welded new. Temelín CEO Miloš Stepanovsky says: "We do not paint."

But Greenpeace has not filed suit against ÈEZ, but against the security authority. The inspection reports must have, in turn, would give instructions to Schweißlogbüchern. And would have to stand in it, what exactly happened in 2010 at the weld 1-4-5 in Temelín, suspect environmentalists.
"There is no case weld 1-4-5 it's not," counters nuclear safety chief Dana Drábová asserted in the discussion with guests from the West. But Temelín chief Stepanovsky promises over klimaretter.info: "I'm willing to let our experts examine with a real welding experts documentation on this weld."Jan Haverkamp just like he would not have.

The nuclear security chief Drábová way, is also chairman of a formally independent state commission of experts. Precisely the one which the government has proposed in its energy strategy to double nuclear power capacity in the Czech Republic about. Alone in Temelín therefore, two more atomic blocks are placed.
Which prevent the Czech Greens Martin Bursík sees as an important task.Foreign nuclear opponents makes the former environment minister a proposal: To prevent the Temelín expansion should "set the current import" Germany and Austria. That would spoil CEZ to build more nuclear power blocks. Because already produced the Temelín power reactors only for abroad, argues Bursík.

Whether the Czech Greenpeace activists against the interests of the energy industry will be able to say? After all, for Temelín 3 and 4, the German government already Hermes export credit guarantees in prospect, as Christine hackers from Munich Environmental Institute reported. The hedge would also apply if a Germany-based company could build the new nuclear power plant blocks at Temelín. Three types of reactors are currently under discussion - a service also provided by the German subsidiary of Areva in Erlangen.
Supposedly 40 million kroner bribe - for Czechs

The interesting question is not just for Christine Hacker: "How will behave the CSU if they share a Berlin government decision to export guarantee, although it has positioned itself in the EIA process publicly about the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment against the expansion of Temelin?"Then Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and his environment minister had Marcel Huber been no response.

An ace against the expansion Brigitte Artmann has recently pulled out of the sleeve: "I accuse the EU Commission on the hearing date in Budweis." A few months ago where the objections to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been treated - in a form that is in the eyes of the Upper Franconian countryside violated European law. Therefore, she was even asked by the European Commission explicitly to action against the EIA process, says Artmann. In addition, calls for the Green Party politician for the planned NPP blocks its own hearing date in Germany. "Accidents at nuclear power plants in South Bohemia also affect the neighboring countries of" environmentalists argue from Austria and the Czech Republic.

Even more explosiveness gets the discussion by the fact that the Czech Greens Martin Bursík as environment minister for his country , the international Aarhus Convention has signed with the public should be involved in environmental decision making, better, including the access to information and justice. For Bursík is convinced. "Czech energy system is corrupt before we Greens in parliament came, I got offered 40 million kroner Officially had the funds should come from environmental companies, but when I inquisition, showed up for me:.. They came from ÈEZ . " But what he could no longer prove regrets Bursík. The "donation" he refused.

Even the Nuremberg Greens Treasurer Elmar Hayn's Temelín it, "because of an incident, our region has been strongly affected by the radioactivity."After the debate, he feels: "The evasive answers of CEZ and the Nuclear you always get a stronger sense of who have to hide anything." Mandelson strengthen "the greatly harassed citizens' movements in South Bohemia".They can contribute something, the Germans want soon to prove. On 18October come and Temelín nuclear safety Drábová President DirectorStepanovsky to Wunsiedel. "Is under the direction of our CSU district administrator Charles Doehler is devoted specifically to the weld 1-4-5," predicts the Green Brigitte Altmann. "The Bavarian Nuclear requested."The same could even bring a welding expert, would accept the the power plant chief says Altmann. And hopes that it "quickly comes the end for Temelín first for safety."

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