Archived press release

British nuclear industry also risks serious accident

1 October 1999

The UK's nuclear industry is not immune from the conditions that caused the world's most serious nuclear accident since Chernobyl, Friends of the Earth said today. It is becoming clear that this serious accident occurred as a result of operator error compounded by a management culture that values cost cutting above safety. While the UK's nuclear industry will claim that it always puts safety first, UK industry regulators are also concerned about the safety culture at the heart of the UK's nuclear establishment.
Dr Patrick Green, Senior Nuclear Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said;
“Cutting corners to save money causes nuclear accidents and risk lives. Already expensive and frequently uneconomic, the UK nuclear industry is also desperately trying to cut its costs. If regulators don't stamp out this unacceptable practise, the UK could be the scene of the world's next nuclear accident.”
During 1999, The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has:
. Sent a 13 person team to BNFL Sellafield in response to a number of accidents at the site in recent months. The results of the audit are due by the end of the year
. Sent officials to Sellafield after it was revealed that BNFL had falsified safety data for plutonium fuel for its demonstration “MOX” plant
. Voiced concern that British Energy has sacked so many key safety staff that staff levels are at or below the minimum levels required to ensure the safety of nuclear reactors. In particular,British Energy does not have any member of staff who is expert in a serious nuclear accident.
. Written to Friends of the Earth stating that they were “anxious” to see the large amounts of highly radioactive and dangerous wastes stored in hot nitric acid at Sellafield reduced.
. Warned that the large volume of untreated wastes at Sellafield present a criticality risk - the type of accident that occurred in Japan - and that combustion risk presents significant potential hazard to the public.
During 1998:
. The Environment Agency voiced concerns that it would be easy for terrorists to chemically separate plutonium from plutonium fuel manufactured at Sellafield; and that they would be able to exercise considerable power by merely threatening to explode such a weapon.
. The Royal Society warned that the UK's plutonium stocks presented a proliferation threat.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust