EDF, Europe’s largest producer of electricity, was charged with complicity in concealing stolen documents and complicity to intrude in a computer network. In 2006, EDF hired a hacker and a private investigator in a “cloak-and-dagger” undercover effort to spy on Greenpeace France’s operations. The spying operation monitored Greenpeace while it challenged plans by the UK government to work with EDF to expand its nuclear operations. The hacking caused the theft of more than 1,400 documents from the computer of the Greenpeace France programme director.
“The fine against EDF, and the damages awarded to Greenpeace send a strong signal to the nuclear industry that no one is above the law”, said Adélaïde Colin, Greenpeace France communications director. “In the run up to the next presidential elections, this verdict shows that the nuclear industry is not compatible with French democracy. Voters should keep this scandal in mind and try to ensure that the energy issue in France is not taken hostage by the nuclear industry and politicians.”
Greenpeace has spent several years campaigning against EDF‘s nuclear operations; more than three-quarters of the electricity produced in France is from nuclear plants. The Fukushima nuclear disaster exposed the inherent dangers of nuclear power and the lack of safety in the industry. In Europe, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium have all announced they are phasing out nuclear electricity. In France, voters have an opportunity in the upcoming election to send a message to politicians that they too want nuclear power phased out.
In addition to the charges against EDF, two EDF nuclear safety officials and two staff from Kargus Consulting, the company EDF hired to spy, were convicted on charges related to spying. All four were jailed, with part of their sentence suspended, and three also fined. (1)
At present, the four French European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) are being built in Finland, France and China are well behind schedule, hampered by significant construction problems and billions over budget, in the case of EDF’s reactors in Finland, and France.
“This case of EDF’s spying should send another signal to any country considering building reactors that the nuclear industry can’t be trusted,” said Colin. “Who can trust an industry that spies and in the case of Fukushima doesn’t tell the public the truth about its nuclear disaster? Instead of working with the nuclear industry, countries should invest in clean, safe sources of renewable electricity”.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
Ends
Contacts:
Adélaïde Colin, Greenpeace France Communications Director: +33 6 84250825
Brian Blomme, Greenpeace International Communications, Amsterdam: +31 06 188 30 281
Greenpeace International 24-hour Press Desk Hotline: +31 20 718 2470
Notes:
(1) Pascal Durieux, head of nuclear safety at EDF in 2006 was sentenced to three-years in prison (with two years suspended), and fined 10,000 Euros;
Pierre-Paul Francois, second in command of EDF nuclear safety security in 2006: was sentenced to three years in prison (with 30 months suspended);
Thierry Lorho, head of Kargus was sentenced to three years in prison (with two years suspended) and fined 4,000 Euros.
Alain Quiros, Kargus computer scientist was sentenced to two years in prison (with 18 months suspended) and fined €4,000.