Earthquake, fire and nuclear leak in Japan

Media Briefing: Safety Implications of Problems in Olkiluoto

16 May 2007

When the Finnish company TVO ordered a European Pressurized Water Reactor from the French company Areva, Finland became the first industrialized country in more than a decade to start nuclear construction. The reactor was supposed to “set a new standard for nuclear safety”, help fulfill Kyoto targets and provide Finnish heavy industry with electricity that is competitive on the free market. Now it seems that none of these promises will be fulfilled: already in 2006 there were more than 700 reported quality and safety problems; the project is 18 months behind schedule, at least EUR700 million over budget and subsidized by French taxpayers; claimed emission reductions will not be realized and emission credits will be bought with taxpayers’ money.

Download Document (35 Kb)

The Economics of Nuclear Power

05 December 2007

A new report published by a team of international energy and economic experts which conclusively proves that nuclear power is neither a practical nor economically viable solution to tackling climate change.

The report, “The Economics of Nuclear Power”, commissioned by Greenpeace International, concludes that nuclear power station construction can run up to 300% over budget and, on average, take four years longer to build than planned.

Download Document (1 Mb)