UK Nuclear
Installations Inspectorate Confirms BNFL Falsification Scandal Extends to Plutonium Fuel
Now in Japan LONDON,
Dec 15 , 1999 - A letter dated 8th November, released earlier today in Japan, from the
UK's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) to the Japanese Embassy in London, confirms
that plutonium fuel shipped to Japan earlier this year from the United Kingdom, contains
quality control data suspected of being falsified by the producers, British Nuclear Fuels
Limited (BNFL). The letter, from the NII's Deputy Chief Inspector, B.J. Furness, concludes
that "MITI and Kansai Electric are ... in a position to reach their own independent
conclusions as to the suitability of the fuel for use at Takahama".
The confirmation from the NII is a further blow to BNFL's prospects for securing
large-scale MOX contracts with Japanese utilities. Such contracts are essential if BNFL is
to receive approval to produce MOX at the new, but as yet unopened Sellafield MOX Plant.
The UK government is currently considering whether to approve or not.
"The Japanese utilities and the public have been consistently deceived by BNFL
over this affair. The government must now refuse BNFL approval to open its new Sellafield
MOX plant," said Greenpeace UK Nuclear Campaigner, Pete Roche.
The NII confirmed yesterday that NII Inspectors were meeting with MITI, on Monday and
Tuesday, at their offices in Bootle (near Liverpool) - but they were not meeting Kansai.
They also confirmed that the subject of the meeting was the falsification of MOX fuel data
- but also that the NII investigation into the problem was ongoing.
The UK's Guardian Newspaper, on 9th December, quoted the NII saying "no one in
Britain is endangered by the falsified safety checks, the only people might have been were
Japanese and they are outside our jurisdiction so we have no obligation to publish".
"It may sound callous, but this is exactly how the legislation is framed -
unfortunately it is not the NII's responsibility to consider the safety of using this fuel
in Japan" said Roche. "Given that the NII's letter to MITI has confirmed that
the data for Takahama-4 fuel is suspect; that the NII has no remit to consider safety in
Japan; and that the NII's investigation is still ongoing, Kansai Electric have only one
option - abandon all plans for using this dangerous fuel."
Greenpeace UK, and two Japanese anti-nuclear groups, Green Action and Mihama no Kai,
have written a joint letter to the NII Deputy Chief Inspector today, to ask him to look in
detail at the evidence presented by Green Action to the Osaka District Court. The evidence
examines the safety data on the Takahama-4 fuel released in Japan following earlier
revelations about data falsification.
"It certainly looks like at least 20 lots of fuel have data which have been
fabricated," said Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action. "We would like to know
what the UK's NII make of our conclusions."
NOTES TO EDITORS
The scandal first emerged in September when the UK Independent newspaper revealed that
fuel quality control data that assures the dimension of the plutonium MOX pellets intended
for Takahama-3 reactor was confirmed as having been falsified by BNFL. However BNFL
claimed at the time that none of the fuel already shipped to Japan was affected. As a
result of the scandal BNFL's MOX demonstration facility was closed on September 12 and it
remains closed today.
Three workers accused by BNFL of undertaking the falsification, have been fired from
their jobs, and have recently lost their second round of appeal against dismissal. They
are currently considering further legal action to regain their jobs, and claim that BNFL
has made them scapegoats.
Copies of the letter from the NII to the Japanese Embassy and of the letter from the
three environment groups to the NII available on request.
For further information:
Pete Roche - Greenpeace UK - 44 171 865 8229
Shaun Burnie - Greenpeace International - mobile number 0621 296913
Ailleen Smith Green Action, Kyoto +81 75 701 7223
Pete Roche, Campaigner, Greenpeace UK,
Canonbury Villas, London N1 2PN
Direct Line +44 171 865 8229 Fax: +44 171 865 8202
Pete.Roche@uk.greenpeace.org
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