Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Space Travel News .




CIVIL NUCLEAR
Greenpeace demands Swiss shut world's oldest nuclear plant
by Staff Writers
Geneva (AFP) Aug 20, 2015


Greenpeace said Thursday it had launched legal action to demand that Switzerland shut down Beznau, the world's oldest commercial nuclear plant, for security reasons.

The plant, located in the northern Swiss canton of Aargau, near the German border, has been running for 46 years.

"The Beznau nuclear plant would not resist a powerful earthquake," the environmental protection group said in a statement.

The organisation said it, along with the Swiss Energy Foundation and the Tri-national Nuclear Protection Association, had filed the suit on Wednesday demanding "the definitive closure of the installation."

Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, Swiss authorities launched probes to determine how all of the country's four nuclear power plants would withstand an earthquake.

In July 2012, they determined that all were fit to withstand a severe earthquake, and could keep running since they posed no threat to the population or the environment.

But Greenpeace and the other plaintiffs in the case said the experts' calculations were based on erroneous technical norms.

The organisations said they had asked in a letter that the Federal Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety (IFSN) "correct its July 2012 decision and order the closure of the Beznau plant."

If the IFSN maintains its decision, it should announce this publicly, Greenpeace said.

The plaintiffs would then take the case to a federal administrative court, and if necessary all the way up to the supreme court, it said in a statement.

Beznau, which opened in 1969 and counts two reactors that are currently undergoing repairs, became the world's oldest nuclear plant after the 2012 closure of Britain's Oldsbury reactor.

Switzerland is considered to have only a "moderate" earthquake risk, but some 10,000 quakes that have hit the Alpine country since the 13th century, and 12 have caused significant damage, according to seismologists.

The most powerful earthquake in Swiss history hit Basel in 1356, measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale and levelling a large part of the city.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Science, Nuclear Technology
Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CIVIL NUCLEAR
Pakistani PM launches construction of controversial Chinese nuclear plant
Karachi (AFP) Aug 20, 2015
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday held a groundbreaking ceremony for two controversial Chinese nuclear plants near the coastal city of Karachi which are set to add 1,100 megawatts to the energy-starved country's electric grid. The plants, which are located just 20 miles from the burgeoning metropolis of around 20 million people, have stoked fears among scientific experts and ... read more


CIVIL NUCLEAR
Arianespace integrates EUTELSAT 8 West B and Intelsat 34 for Ariane 5 launch

EUTELSAT 8 West B and Intelsat 34 set for Ariane 5 launch

NASA rocket launches UH's scientific payload into space

NASA selects contractor to prepare launch structure for SLS

CIVIL NUCLEAR
NASA can send your name to Mars

How Much Contamination is Okay on Mars 2020 Rover?

One Decade after Launch, Mars Orbiter Still Going Strong

One Decade after Launch, Mars Orbiter Still Going Strong

CIVIL NUCLEAR
LADEE spacecraft finds neon in lunar atmosphere

Crowdfunding raises $720,000 to restore Neil Armstrong spacesuit

Japanese Company to Advertise Soft Drink on Moon

From a million miles away, NASA camera shows moon crossing face of Earth

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Scientists study nitrogen provision for Pluto's atmosphere

Flowing nitrogen ice glaciers seen on Pluto

New Horizons 'Captures' Two of Pluto's Smaller Moons

New Horizons Finds Second Mountain Range in Pluto's 'Heart'

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Solar System formation don't mean a thing without that spin

Gemini-discovered world is most like Jupiter

Methane, water enshroud nearby Jupiter-like exoplanet

Astronomers discover 'young Jupiter' exoplanet

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Countdown to Deep Space Continues with Latest RS-25 Test

US to get second shipment of Russian RD-181 rocket engines later in 2015

Ariane 6 and Vega C begin development

Mechanisms are Critical to Space Vehicle Flight Success

CIVIL NUCLEAR
China's space exploration potential has US chasing its own tail

China to deploy space-air-ground sensors for environment protection

Chinese earth station is for exclusively scientific and civilian purposes

Cooperation in satellite technology put Belgium, China to forefront

CIVIL NUCLEAR
Rosetta hits 'milestone' in comet's run past Sun

Rosetta hits 'milestone' in comet's run past Sun

Comet's firework display ahead of perihelion

Philae silver lining: robot lab shielded from sun




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.