nuclear-news

Germany closing nuclear, France divided on the subject

Sarkozy’s main rival, Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande, wants to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear energy but not end it altogether. 

But Yannick Rousselet, who heads nuclear issues at Greenpeace France, believes this is the beginning of the end.

Year After Fukushima, Nuclear Energy Divides Europe, Voice of America, Lisa Bryant March 09, 2012 Paris Last year’s accident at Japan’s Fukushima-Daichi nuclear power plant has intensified divisions in Europe over the safety and future of nuclear energy. Perhaps nowhere are the differences more apparent than between the region’s biggest powers – France and Germany. ...French President Nicolas Sarkozy is a strong proponent of nuclear energy. He argues that nuclear energy is critical in supplying jobs and low-cost power.

France is one of the world’s leading nuclear energy producers. Roughly three-quarters of electricity here is derived from nuclear power. France also exports nuclear energy and technology. French companies will be building a nuclear reactor in Britain, and are bidding to build others in South Africa.

But the Fukushima accident prompted the German government to announce a shutdown of all its nuclear reactors by 2022 – rather than a more gradual phaseout.

Germany’s action followed massive anti-nuclear protests – protests that did not take place in France. . … Germany, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland – which have been very clearly saying that they were going to shut down someday their nuclear power plants and they are not going to construct more…  even in France, Fukushima has raised concerns about nuclear power. They’re raised at town hall meetings – especially now, as the country gears up for April presidential elections.

Sarkozy’s main rival, Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande, wants to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear energy but not end it altogether.

But Yannick Rousselet, who heads nuclear issues at Greenpeace France, believes this is the beginning of the end.  …  http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/A-year-After-Fukushima-Nuclear-Energy-Divides-Europe-142100153.html

March 10, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general