Brussels, International — Greenpeace warns that the decision by Slovakia to restart a Soviet era nuclear power plant would put the whole of Europe at risk, without providing any relief for gas shortages. The Slovak government argues that it needs to reopen Bohunice because of current gas shortages, as a result of a dispute between Russia and Ukraine.[1]
"This is nothing more than a con by Slovak authorities. In Slovakia, natural gas is mostly used for heating; at most, it only generates 6% of electricity. Yet, nuclear power can only deliver electricity. It cannot substitute gas for heating in the short term. There is absolutely no reason to re-start Bohunice, a dangerous Soviet era nuclear power plant," said Jan Haverkamp, Greenpeace EU dirty energy policy campaigner.
Slovakia is also set on continuing the construction of another dangerous nuclear power plant. Like Bohunice V1, the Mohovce reactors do not have a secondary containment chamber to protect the plant from outside impacts, such as a plane crash.
"Slovakia's energy system is wasteful and dirty. Yet, the government is doing nothing to improve energy efficiency and develop alternative flexible electricity generation sources like small hydro, sustainable biomass, geothermal and solar, and is instead fixated on dangerous and outdated technologies like nuclear," said Haverkamp.
On the gas dispute that sparked the situation in Slovakia, Greenpeace EU renewables policy campaigner Frauke Thies said:
"Greenpeace supports diplomatic efforts to solve the dispute in the short run and restore gas supplies to the millions of people affected across Europe. But in the longer term, energy independence can only come with more efficiency and the widespread development of renewables."
"Going down the nuclear path is not the solution: it is by far the most expensive and the most dangerous option. Also, as is the case with gas, the EU is dependent on Russia for 45% of imports of the enriched uranium fuel that nuclear power plants need."[2]
Other contacts:
Jan Haverkamp – Greenpeace EU dirty energy campaigner:
+32 (0)2 2741 921, +32 (0)477 79 04 16 (mob.), 
Frauke Thies – Greenpeace EU renewables policy campaigner:
+32 (0)2 2741 912, +32 (0)477 79 04 15 (mob.), 
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications manager:
+32 (0)2 2741 903, +32 (0)496 15 62 29 (mob.), 
Notes:
1. The shut down of the Bohunice V1 plant was a condition for Slovakia’s accession to the EU in 2004. Slovakia’s accession treaty says the nuclear power station cannot be upgraded to meet modern safety standards. The European Commission has recently called on Slovakia to stick to its commitments and keep Bohunice offline. It has also cast doubt on whether the measure will have any effect to relieve citizens who are suffering from the gas crisis.
2. The Greenpeace Energy [R]evolution scenario (www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/reports/EU-energy-revolution-report) shows how the EU can reduce its imports of gas by 58% by 2050 and at the same time phase out nuclear and coal.