Portugal’s Environment Minister says he has asked Spain for more information on the Almaraz nuclear power plant and the new nuclear fuel dump planned at the site just 100kms from Portugal’s border.
"Today, Friday, we are going to send a new request to Spain for additional information on the project and on the environmental impacts and particularly on the trans-boundary environmental impacts," said Minister, João Matos Fernandes.
The minister added, and possibly believes, that Spain will deliver this information to the Portuguese Government, "In the week beginning March 13th when we will have news and announce how this environmental impact assessment will be discussed in public."
João Matos Fernandes, already out of his depth on many aspects of his remit, explained that the environmental impact assessment involves the technical assessment part and a second part that allows public consultation, which he assures will be carried out in Portugal.
"Spain has provided us with all the information we have requested. The evaluation of the quality of information is being made and I do not have a conclusive opinion on this matter at the moment," stressed the minister.
The European Commission announced on 21 February that Portugal and Spain governments had reached an "amicable settlement" in the dispute surrounding the Almaraz nuclear power plant, with Lisbon withdrawing a complaint to Brussels.
In fact, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Drunker bullied Portugal into backing down as he did not want dissent in the lower orders at a time when the European dream gradually is being dissolved by Brexit and dissent from other key member States.
On January 16, Portugal sent a complaint to the European Commission about Spain building a nuclear fuel dump on the banks of river Tagus which flows through Portugal as the Tejo.
The Portuguese Government argued that this fuel dump near the Almaraz nuclear power station was commissioned without the necessary assessment of cross-border impacts, which is against European rules.
There is no settlement, 'amicable' or otherwise and by forcing Portugal to drop its complaint, Juncker has twisted an EU legal process for his own political ends.
João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portugal's Environment Minister
Comments
As an Industrial Radiographer, I know that these plants have a life span. Its just plane stupid to pretend that it can be safely maintained past this point, The by products created by these plants are deemed to be a danger to the public and the environment for ever and a day.
There is more wrong with the world we have created. Than there is right. Alt thou I don't agree with the oil and gas drilling platt forms , I am a realist, and except the world runs on fossil fuels and Portugal needs the revenue. Defunct nuclear power stations are ticking time bombs. Radio active waste can never be made safe of cleaned up. An accident makes the area not fit for human life for EVER...
Whilst I agree that Portugal needs to get its own house in order before castigating Spain over EIA's I cannot agree that it is mere scaremongering over the nuclear waste issue. One just needs to see the continuing damage caused by the melt-down at Fukishima. The odds of something similar happening again may be low, but the stakes are stratospheric, especially here. We do not have the "luxury" of the Pacific ocean to wash away the nasties.
Juncker's meddling proves once again that the EU operates for its leaders' own benefit, not that of the people, and scenarios like this fully justify the UK's decision to abandon ship.
I've posted this link before but it cannot be seen too many times. It's real. We cannot bury our heads in the sand forever.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-19/fukushima-aborts-latest-robot-mission-inside-reactor-radiation-unimaginable-levels
What a load of nonsense. The plant needs to be de commissioned. As it is at the end of its life span. To put
a nuclear fuel dump on the site of a ageing nuclear reactor is just reckless..