(January 19, 1990) On 17 December, after 15 days, the fast to stop Golfech has ended. But the campaign continues.
(325.3254) WISE Amsterdam - On 3 December six members of STOP GOLFECH had begun a hunger strike to draw people's attention to the problems of nuclear energy in general and the Golfech-1 reactor in particular (see WISE News Communique 323/324.3238). Although the hunger strikers feel that their demands had little concrete results, there is so much else to be done in the campaign that they decided to put an end to the strike and move on to other things.
The loading of Golfech was scheduled for 27 November but had been delayed 15 days because of generic problems in the pressurizer leading to leaks at the points where instruments are connected. These problems have been found on all 1300 MW reactors (see also WISE News Communique 323/324.3239). Loading has now been completed.
However, there is also the problem of lack of water, a problem that Golfech's director of works, Daniel Michon, refuses even to admit exists. Yet over the last five years the level of the Garonne river has dropped significantly. No study has ever taken account of this problem, but it seems reasonable to STOP GOLFECH to worry about the effects of the emission of liquids and gases which are both radioactively and chemically contaminated while the river level is so low. The problem is especially alarming as the Garonne serves as the supply for drinking water from Agen to Marmande and there has as yet been no alternative water supply found.
In addition, there is the mud problem. At a meeting between STOP GOLFECH and the nuclear station's director, the problem of residual mud in the steam generators of 1300 MW reactors, which brought about the halt of Nogent-1 and St. Alban-2 and damaged about 100 tubes per generator, was discussed. Mud of the same type also appeared at Golfech after the first high temperature tests. A representative of the safety authorities told STOP GOLFECH that "a definitive solution to this generic anomaly of steam generators has yet to be found." But he "hopes" that the serious problems of Nogent-1 and St. Alban-2 would not reappear in the new reactors now being put into service...Meanwhile the mud at Golfech is being cleaned up and is expected to take three weeks.
Generic anomalies also exist in the steam generators. Here the consequences are much more serious than those found in the pressurizers. This kind of problem is classed at level 2 on the scale of accident gravity. That is to say, the problem can degenerate to a more serious level. These anomalies correspond to a degradation of material which is essential for safety and necessitates notable modification to the maintenance program. STOP GOLFECH is even more worried and vigilant about this as the same fault has appeared in the reactors at Cattenom, Flamenville, Paluel, St. Alban and Nogent - all of which are the same reactor type as the Golfech reactors.
STOP GOLFECH is demanding:
- that the reports made by šEdF and the safety authorities on these faults be made public;
- that plans to repair these faults, approved by the safety authorities, be made public including full technical details which would allow an evaluation of the repairs to be made;
- that a reference level concerning the cracks be set up;
- that future procedures to deal with any cracks be clearly explained; that a list of all the modifications made to 1300 MW reactors be established.
On a more positive note, the deputy mayors of Toulouse and Ramonville have organized a petition to be circulated amongst local politicians demanding that a local information campaign and a referendum be held before the authorization to start the chain reaction is given. As of 22 December they had 41 signatures.
Meanwhile, a 24-hour presence in caravans at Golfech has been established and demonstrations will continue to be held every Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. In addition, STOP GOLFECH is still distributing copies of its European appeal and post cards it is asking the international community to send to the French president. Finally, STOP GOLFECH has launched a subscription to pay for a financial report to be prepared by the Institut d'Evaluation Europeen des Strategies Energetiques en Europe on the economic effects of Golfech on the region. Contact them at the address below.
Source and contact: Jim Rowe, Vivre Sans Le Danger Nucleaire De Golfech, BP 343, 47008 Agen Cedex, France, tel: 63 29 16 54 (24 hours).