Zelena Akcija: Continued Operation of Pacs Nuclear Power-Plant Dangerous for Croatia

13 October 2006

The Ministry of Environmental Protection, Spatial Planning and Construction recently published the summary of the Environmental Study of Pacs nuclear power-plant in Hungary (located about 100km from Croatian border, on its web-site (www.mzopu.hr). Zelena akcija environmental association believes that the study is incomplete and demands that it is amended with appropriate information.

Furthermore, Zelena Akcija demands from the Ministry to extend the deadline for public access to the Study (restricted to just two weeks). Also, it demands from the Ministry to expand the area covered by public debate to the whole of northern Croatia (public debate has been organized only in Osijek), having in mind that in case of incident, this whole area could be endangered because of the prevalent wing patterns.

As early as last Spring, on the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster, Zelena Akcija demanded from the Government to condition the continued operation of nuclear power-plants in the neighbouring countries with the obligation to sign insurance agreements to cover all direct and indirect damages, as well as the costs of repair and sanation of damages caused by eventual disasters.

Namely, the existing obligations regarding payment of damages are faulty and it is likely that the majority of demands and costs would have to be covered by the State Budget, meaning that the citizens would cover the costs themselves.

The Study lacks detailed description of procedures in case of serious deffects. Also, it lacks detailed description of environmental impact in cases of floods and low water levels, especially having in mind that the climatic changes make such occurrences rather probable.

Therefore, Zelena akcija demands that the Study presents the scenarios of increased risks, in view of climate changes that may take place during the extended operation of the power-plant.