Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
The Dutch Plutonium Dead End

AuteurM.Pavageau, Mycle Schneider, WISE Paris
1-01-4-40-06.pdf
Datumoktober 1997
Classificatie 1.01.4.40/06 (AFVAL - OPWERKINGSCONTRACTEN)
Voorkant

Uit de publicatie:

THE DUTCH PLUTONIUM DEAD END
Mathieu Pavageau, Research Associate
Mycle Schneider, Director
WISE-Paris
October 1997
Commissioned by Greenpeace-Netherlands

INTRODUCTION
Even though the Netherlands have not launched a large nuclear
programme, and in particular did not order any nuclear power plant after 1973,
both electricity utilities operating the only two nuclear reactors started a plutonium
programme, in the framework of a European collaboration: both utilities signed
reprocessing contracts; and the Dutch Cooperation of Electricity Producers
(SEP1) owns shares of a European Fast-Breeder Reactor consortium. The
objective of the plutonium programme was originally to produce plutonium in
reprocessing plants to be used in breeder reactors.
There are only two nuclear power plants in the Netherlands of which one is
still operated. The electricity utility GKN2 operated the 57 MWe boiled water
reactor (BWR) at Dodewaard, which went critical in 1968. At the beginning of
October 1996, SEP announced that the Dodewaard nuclear power plant would
be definitely shut down by March 1997, even though a large investment had been
made recently to upgrade the safety of the plant. The reason would be of
economic nature. The plant had previously been planned to be shut down by 1
January 1995, then by 2004. The plant was effectively shut down by the end of
March 19973.
The electricity utility EPZ4 operates the only operating nuclear power
plant, the 459 MWe pressurised water reactor at Borssele, which went critical in
1973. This plant is now planned to be shut down by 2003.