French activists oppose German nuclear export (plutonium factory to China)

[Dirk39]

French activists oppose German nuclear export
von Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire - 03.02.2004 10:15

The French anti-nuclear network Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire has stated its opposition to the sale of a German plutonium factory to China. At its annual meeting on 31.1./1.2.2004 in Brioude, Haute Loire, the group adopted this statement:

"The annual meeting of Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire condemns the expot of a MOX factory from the German location, Hanau, to China. The Siemens corporation and the German government want to export the factory although it was never licensed to produce in Germany.

It is unacceptable to export technologies whose operation one does not want to risk oneself. The same public opinion that prevented the factory going into operation opposes the export.

Added to that is the proliferation risk. As the People?s Republic of China has no reprocessing plant, it cannot feed MOX production. Experts therefore think it likely that the factory is to be used for military purposes. For this reason export to Russia was not permitted already in 2001.

The network Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire declares its solidarity with the actions of the anti-nuclear movement in Germany against the export of the MOX factory.?
http://germany.indymedia.org/2004/02/73522.shtml

Hello from Germany,
Dirk

[jpak]

1. I don't think MOX fuel has any military purpose

MOX is a mixture of fissionable plutonium and uranium for use in light water (electricity producing) nuclear reactors.

The plutonium comes from reprocessed spent nuclear fuel. The plutonium in MOX cannot easily be diverted back to the weapons Pu stream.

Since the Chinese already have reprocessing for nuclear weapons - this plant will support non-weapons-related nuclear power programs.

That said, I am extremely anti-nuclear and also oppose the sale of this technology to any country.

Just say no to the plutonium economy.

[Dirk39]

2. Hi Jpak,

I can't judge if there's a possible use within a weapon-prgramm. Siemens says no, some critics say yes.
But at least the greens have lost the very last cent credibility here in Germany.

AFAIK this factory would be used to mix plutonium and uranium. This mixture would be used to produce fuel elements for nuclear power plants.
But this process needs plutonium. But China doesn't have a "civil"
reprocessing plant, to seperate the plutonium in burnt off fuel elements. And it's questionable if the military reprocessing plant is still in use.

Siemens states the Chinese would use it to dismantle their plutonium from weapons. But there are no signs that China wants to start reducing their 400 atomic weapons. Siemens further states, the Chinese want to use it in their nuclear reactors.

One question remains:
Wouldn't the Siemens-factory make it necessary, to posess (more)Plutonium that could be used to build weapons.
And don't the final products of this facility necessarily contain plutonium that could be used to build weapons?

That's what the critics here say. I can't judge it.

This technical vocabulary is horror enough for me,
Dirk

[jpak]

4. Hi Dirk

thanks for the clarification...

Lots of "unknown unkowns" (like Chinese reprocessing capability) surrounding this sale...

things that make you go hmmmmmm...

[GermanDJ]

3. Why does hardly anyone watch this subject from another perspective?

First of all: I'm against nuclear power per sé, because I doubt that this technology and its waste products can be kept under control. Radioactivity remains active for thousands of years and I don't think that we will find safe storage places for the waste products.

*But*: What if the German government has an eye on one of the the most important issues in the years to come: Peak oil? We are running out of carbon hydrogen resources and in the past two years at least two wars have been waged (at least partly) for this reason: In Afghanistan to build a pipeline and Iraq: Well, we all know what was *this* about...

So, what if the German government thinks (apart from the expected economical profits) that's it's a wise move to give the Chinese regime technology to secure it's energy supplies in order to avoid the need to act aggressively in the future in the quest for oil?

It's just a thought, but I find more and more indications that this could be one of the motives behind this move.
The following quote by Mike Ruppert describes quite good the situation at hand:

"The simple fact (...) is that to secure imports equivalent to the amounts consumed by China and India means taking that oil away from China and India, or some other mix of countries. The question is, from whom?

Other global battles for the oil that remains have already begun, albeit quietly for the time being. This year China will pass Japan as the world's second largest oil importer. A January 3 article by James Brooke in the New York Times titled Japan and China Battle for Russia's Oil and Gas, described the fierce high-stakes contest underway. Russia is going to build only one pipeline east from its Siberian fields. It is either going to terminate in the middle of China, or on Russia 's Pacific coast where it can supply Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Brooke wrote, “With the choice Russia faces, the political and economic dynamics of Northeast Asia stand to be profoundly shaped for years to come.”"

( http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/013004_in_your_face.html )


On edit: forgot the link and part of the last quote was missing

[jpak]

5. Does China really import oil to generate electricity???

I thought they used coal and nuclear...

[GermanDJ]

6. Yep, looks like this is the case:

http://biz.yahoo.com/rm/040119/energy_china_imports_1.html

"The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday China was driving faster-than-expected world oil demand growth.
(...)
A crunch in power supplies also led to more oil being burned for electricity generation.

IEA figures released on Friday showed that China overtook Japan this year to be the second-biggest oil consumer at 5.46 million barrels per day (bpd) after the United States. It said Japan used 5.43 million bpd.

For 2004, the IEA predicts China will account for almost a quarter of world oil demand growth, with consumption seen rising 330,000 bpd to 5.79 million bpd versus a global rise of 1.22 million bpd."