plutonium

Greenpeace condemns Japan's plan to return plutonium to UK sender

Last edited 12 January 2000 at 9:00am
12 January, 2000

Greenpeace today condemned as "misguided" plans by a Japanese electricity company to return to Britain a controversial cargo of plutonium reactor fuel, whose delivery sparked international protests last year.

BNFL faces collapse as Japanese refuse to accept plutonium fuel after data scandal

Last edited 16 December 1999 at 9:00am
16 December, 1999

16 Devember 1999 - Japan's Industry Ministry (MITI) today said that no more plutonium-MOX fuel will be accepted from British Nuclear Fuels following revelations that quality assurance data cannot be guaranteed. This represents a fatal blow to BNFL's plans to open the unauthorised £300 million Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP).

BNFL 'ignoring safety for profits' claim

Last edited 13 October 1999 at 8:00am
13 October, 1999
Fukui City, 13 October - British Nuclear Fuels the producers of MOX fuel for Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) are ignoring basic safety and quality standards of industrial production in an apparent attempt to reduce production costs, Greenpeace and Green Action claimed today.


The accusation comes after the two organisations commissioned an assessment by Dr. Frank Barnaby following the revelation that quality control data was falsified. Three workers accused of being responsible for the falsification were fired from BNFL last week.

New evidence shows that plutonium fuel shipment could contain falsified data

Last edited 29 September 1999 at 8:00am
29 September, 1999

Fukui politicians speak out against British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL)

Deadly plutonium fuel to travel via Northern Japan despite lack of prior consultation

Last edited 28 September 1999 at 8:00am
28 September, 1999

Tokyo, September 28th 1999 - A cargo of deadly weapons-usable plutonium MOX fuel is expected to travel today through the pristine environment of northern Japan, through the Tsugaru Straits and past the island of Hokkaido, warned Greenpeace. The two British-flagged armed freighters, the Pacific Pintail, carrying some 225kg of weapons-usable plutonium in half a ton of MOX fuel, and the now empty Pacific Teal, began the three-day journey from Fukushima on Monday afternoon, bound for the Takahama nuclear facility in Fukui prefecture.

Sellafield plutonium arrives in Japan - Greenpeace urges UK Government to reject Sellafield MOX Plant.

Last edited 27 September 1999 at 8:00am
27 September, 1999
Greenpeace - taking action against Nuclear power
Arctic Sunrise - taking action against nuclear power

As BNFL's two armed plutonium ships arrived in Japan today, Greenpeace UK called on the Government to reject the company's application to open its new Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP).

Greenpeace vessel surrounded by Japanese Maritime Safety Commandos while bearing witness to deadly plutonium fuel shipment

Last edited 27 September 1999 at 8:00am
27 September, 1999

At around 5.30am today, amidst massive maritime security, the Greenpeace ship MV Arctic Sunrise bore witnesses to the delivery of the first cargo of weapons usable plutonium-MOX fuel to Japan from Europe. The fuel onboard the British flagged ship "Pacific Teal" arrived at the Fukushima nuclear plant on Japan's Pacific Coast. Carrying banners reading "Plutonium Kills" and "Plutonium = Destruction", the Sunrise was surrounded by 10 Japanese Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) ships carrying commandos in full riot equipment.

BNFL's plutonium plans on the rocks after false data scandal

Last edited 15 September 1999 at 8:00am
15 September, 1999

Today's revelations that BNFL falsified safety records on plutonium fuel threatens to cripple its future plutonium business. The first shipment of plutonium fuel (MOX) from Sellafield is currently only a week away from arrival in Japan but may now have to be sent back to the UK for additional safety checks. The Japanese Science and Environment body (MITI) has ordered that the safety checks must take place before the plutonium fuel is used. BNFL's Japanese customers are reported to be flying to Sellafield for urgent discussions.

Greenpeace urges ban on plutonium cargo vessels

Posted by bex — 13 September 1999 at 8:00am - Comments
Nuclear waste transportation flask

Ten deadly nuclear cargoes of weapons-usable plutonium fuel are to travel from Europe to Japan each year via South Africa, according to a Reuters's story published today. In light of this information, Greenpeace urged all potential en route nations concerned by the risks associated with these shipments to redouble their efforts in opposing this and futue transports being conducted by European and Japanese nuclear industry.

The latest information comes as two ships laden with some 450 kg of weapons-usable plutonium, contained in 40 plutonium fuel elements (MOX), rounded the Cape of Good Hope bound for Japan early Friday morning (13th August). The ships are now believed to be in the South West Pacific Ocean heading for Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

Greenpeace fights freeze on bank account

Last edited 23 July 1999 at 8:00am
23 July, 1999
Environmental group calls on UK government to stop expansion plans for MOX


Greenpeace today held a press conference to call on the British Government and its state-owned nuclear reprocessing company, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (BNFL) to immediately rescind the freeze on its bank account, and to end plans to expand plutonium fuel (MOX) production at BNFL's Sellafield plant in Cumbria, north England.

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