In this issue:
Shortcomings of Belene EIA and growing opposition
South India appeals to new government
South African NGOs demand nuclear summit
EBRD puts K2/R4 on the fast track
In brief
25 Years ago
Then
In WISE Bulletin 5 we had an information request from a German group opposing plans for a HTR reactor: "German citizens seek info on HTR accidents. Citizens in Hamm/Uentrop, West Germany are seeking to halt plans for a 300 MW High Temperature Reactor. They are requesting information on accidents in similar plants in other countries." (WISE Bulletin 5, May/June 1979)
Now
Germany has always played a leading role in developing HTR technology. Citizens' Initiative Hamm recently published an overview of the German connection to international HTR developments.
Germany had two HTR reactors operating at a research center in Jülich (closed in 1988) and in Hamm-Uentrop (closed in 1989). The Jülich reactor was a research reactor but the Thorium-HTR Hamm was designed as a commercial plant, but closed following a serious accident in 1986 and after just two years of operation.
Germany cooperated closely with China from the 1970s and the Siemens designs for the HTR were sold to China due to a lack of prospective buyers in Germany. A Chinese research HTR came into operation in 2000. Similar cooperation existed between the Jülich institute and Japan, which opened a HTR in 2001. Research work is currently underway in Germany for the design of the South African PBMR.
German contributions to Indonesian nukes are less well known. In 1986, the German minister for economics recommended the construction of a HTR to the military government of Indonesia. Plans for new reactors in Indonesia were also recently recommenced.
German institutes continue research on the HTR in a European context. Citizen's Initiative Hamm has demanded that the responsible federal minister halt German export of HTR technology.
The article "Nuclear power: from Germany into the whole world!" can be found at www.thtr-a.de/current5.htm
WISE-Amsterdam/NIRS
ISSN: 1570-4629
Reproduction of this material is encouraged. Please give credit when reprinting.
Editorial team: Tinu Otoki (WISE Amsterdam), Michael Mariotte (NIRS). With contributions from CEE Bankwatch Network, Earthlife Africa, People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy and WISE Czech Republic.
The next issue (612-613) will be mailed out July 16, 2004.
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