The French anti-nuclear network Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire has stated its opposition to the sale of a German plutonium factory to China. At its annual meeting on 31.1./1.2.2004 in Brioude, Haute Loire, the group adopted this statement:
"The annual meeting of Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire condemns the expot of a MOX factory from the German location, Hanau, to China. The Siemens corporation and the German government want to export the factory although it was never licensed to produce in Germany.
It is unacceptable to export technologies whose operation one does not want to risk oneself. The same public opinion that prevented the factory going into operation opposes the export.
Added to that is the proliferation risk. As the People’s Republic of China has no reprocessing plant, it cannot feed MOX production. Experts therefore think it likely that the factory is to be used for military purposes. For this reason export to Russia was not permitted already in 2001.
The network Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire declares its solidarity with the actions of the anti-nuclear movement in Germany against the export of the MOX factory.”
It is unacceptable to export technologies whose operation one does not want to risk oneself. The same public opinion that prevented the factory going into operation opposes the export.
Added to that is the proliferation risk. As the People’s Republic of China has no reprocessing plant, it cannot feed MOX production. Experts therefore think it likely that the factory is to be used for military purposes. For this reason export to Russia was not permitted already in 2001.
The network Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire declares its solidarity with the actions of the anti-nuclear movement in Germany against the export of the MOX factory.”
