nuclear-news

Poland – same old story – politicians want nuclear energy, but public is against it

Atomic energy: Politicians back nuclear – but voters still wary Financial Times, By Liam Nolan, 13 June 12 “………Despite broad party support, a 2011 ministry of economy survey revealed that only 38 per cent of Poles are in favour of nuclear energy. So convincing Poles that nuclear energy is necessary will be the government’s next hurdle.
In March, the ministry of economy launched a three-year information
campaign costing 18m zlotys, arguing in favour of the benefits and
safety of nuclear generated energy.
The argument will be a difficult one to make as nuclear opponents – a
broad collection of local residents, Polish environmental NGOs and
Greenpeace – are also mounting their own public relations campaign.
In a sign of rising opposition, in February residents of the seaside
town of Mielno – 10km from the proposed site at Gaski – rejected the
location of the proposed plant in a locally organised ballot.
In addition, more than 50,000 German citizens have filed online
petitions to the Polish ministry of economy since January, declaring
their opposition to the programme.
Professor Jan Haverkamp, a Greenpeace energy analyst, says the
environmental group and Choczewo residents will organise a week-long
anti-nuclear workshop in July.
The government is due to decide on the location of the first nuclear
plant in 2013. Some analysts believe its construction phase is more
likely to commence between 2018 and 2020.
Public debate, protests and the resulting possibility of permit
delays, are all likely to delay the government’s and PGE’s plans to
lay the first “nuclear concrete” on schedule.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/8de8109a-ab0a-11e1-b675-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1xnvBbiGg

June 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, politics