XA04C1328
BARSEBACK NUCLEAR PLANT FEBRUARY 99 by Ann-Christin Buch BarsebHck Kraft AB, Sweden
OH of the plant Barsebdck Nuclear Power Plant is situated in the south of Sweden 19 km from Copenhagen in Denmark. Barsebdck Kraft AB is a private company, parent company is Sydkraft AB. Barsebdck data: 2 BWR-units, 615 MW each, 1975 and 1977
OH of Sweden There are 4 nuclear power plants in Sweden with a total of 12 reactors, 9 BTR-units (ABB) and 3 WR-units (Westinghouse).
Further facts: w-ww.Udkraft.se
The Threat of a Phase out of Barsebick 1
Current situation In December 1998 we are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Administrative Court in Sweden whether the decision of the Swedish government to close Barsebdck is in accordance with the law. We have reason to believe our legal position is very strong. The Supreme Administrative court may even forward the case to the EC Court of Justice, since the case is unique.
See Feb 24 98 below Barsebdck should, according to the government decision, have been closed before the 1" of July 1998, but the Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Stay of Execution, after Barsebdck Kraft had applied for judicial review.
In parallel with the legal process Sydkraft, our parent company, continue a dialogue with the Government, which may result in an agreement between the two parts. In that case it will result in a co-operation between Sydkraft and Vattenfall (owned by the government), where the compensation for the loss of Barsebdck 1 will be shares in Ringhals Nuclear Power plant (Owned by the government via Vattenfall). Several agreements remains to be signed before Sydkraft agrees upon a voluntary settlement.
Background
Referendum 1980 In 1980, due to the accident at Three Mile Island, there was a referendum in Sweden about the future of nuclear power. The result of the referendum was a decision to stop at the number of 12 reactor (another xx were planned) and let those operate for 25 years. The Swedish Parliament then took a resolution to 79 phase out Swedish nuclear power before 2010, provided certain conditions as to energy supply and economy were fulfilled.
4' of February 1997 On the 4hof February 1997 the Swedish Agreement of Energy was official. he political parties made an agreement on closing one of Sweden's 12 reactors before the end of 1998. Barsebdck 1, one of Sweden's oldest reactors, 19 kilometres from the capital of Denmark with a high symbolic value was chosen. To make the decision possible the Government had to create a new law.
10' of June 1997 The Swedish government voted through the proposition of the law
18'hof December 97 The Swedish Parliament decided upon approving the law
23rd of February 98 Sydkraft lodged a complaint against the phase-out decision in Brussels. The decision is in contravention to the competition rules of the EC. Sydkraft later applies for Stay of Execution.
On the 14' of December 1998 the District Court of Stockholm says the Stay of Execution that the supreme Administrative Court has ruled on is sufficient legal protection for the moment (see below).
24' of Februari 98 An application of 160 pages for judicial review was sent to the Supreme Administrative Court concerning the government's decision to close down Barsebdck 1 by June 30 1998.
The decision is contrary to the Swedish constitution, the European convention and EC law. No environmental ipact assessment is made. The proportionality principle does not allow the phasing out of private owned reactors, as long as there are government owned reactors in operation..
On the 14" of May 1998 the Supreme Administrative Court ruled on Stay of execution regarding the Government's decision, which means Barsebdck 1 has permission to operate until the legal process has come to an end.
Swedish opinion Opinion polls (Nov 97, March 98 and May 98) shows that about 80 percent of the Swedish population want to use nuclear power until the existing reactors have to be stopped for safety or economical reasons. About 20 percent of these want to develop nuclear power.
Local opinion Average or high confidence in Barsebdck has 94 percent on the Swedish side and 74 percent in Copenhagen 1998.
80 OH OH to show opinion for the last for years.
Information Activities
From February 1997 till August 1998 Barsebdck's personnel have executed several information activities to stress our message that Barsebdck is necessary for the envirorument, the jobs and the economy.
How to avoid shortage of personnel
0 5 years continuous guarantee of employment to everybody at the Barsebdck Plant 0 Active and rapid denial of every false alarm about Barsebdck in media, very often by e-mail from the plant manager to stop circulation of rumours. Developing of competence, e g IT-education A strategy for the future in case of a definite decision Keep the dialogue up between personnel and their leaders A bonus system Activities to keep physical and mental health up Inviting creators of public opinion e g politicians, to have a dialogue with personnel at Barsebdck
Enclosed at PEME: Facts about Barseb5ck Annual Report 1997 Press releases about the legal process 3) Operating experience from Swedish Nuclear Power Plants 1997
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