Stop the Mochovce nuclear power plant!

The appeal of the Polish Ecological Club and Cracow group of the Green Federation

The Polish Ecological Club has been following the situation of the nuclear power plant in Mochovce, Slovakia. The power plant, situated 120 km east of Bratislava, is to be equipped with four Russian reactors of the type VVER 440-213. Rignt now the Slovak government is concentrating its efforts on the completion of the first two blocks. The overall cost of the enterprise is estimated to be 600 million US dollars.

At the moment, two financial institutions are considering the possibility of financial involvement: EUROATOM, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It seems to us that the efforts of Polish environmental organisations should be focussed on: exerting pressure on the Polish government to express its disapproval of the enterprise, and exerting pressure on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to abandon its plans of financing the enterprise.

Additionally, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development wants to begin the preparations of the Environmental Assessment. It is vital that the process include not only Slovakia, but the neighbouring countries as well, and that as many environmental organisations as possible participate in it.

Below we present models of letters to the Sejm and Senate of the Polish Republic, Mr. Jan Krzysztof Bielecki who represents Poland in the Board of Directors of the EBRD, and Ms. Katrina Luba, who is responsible in EBRD for the public consultations of the enterprise.

We would appreciate it if you could inform us about the actions taken by your organisations.

Polish Ecological Club
"EJ Mochovce"
ul. Piţusudskiego 8
31-109 Kraków, POLAND

Green Federation - the Cracow Group
"EJ Mochovce"
ul. Sţawkowska 12
31-014 Kraków, POLAND

MODEL LETTERS:

Sejm and Senate of the Polish Republic
ul.Wiejska 6
00-902 Warsaw
POLAND

Dear Sirs,

A nuclear power plant is being built at Mochovce in Slovakia. It will be equipped with Russian reactors of the type WER 440-213. It is designed to consist of four blocks.

The power plant will be situated in the immediate vicinity of our country.

The level of ecological threat posed by this enterprise is reflected by the fact that it was given the highest category of environmental influence A-1 by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which plans to become involved in financing the completion of the power plant.

We strongly oppose the enterprise, which presents danger to us and to our children, and we appeal to you, as our representatives, to voice support for our efforts aimed at putting a stop to the building of the nuclear power plant near the borders of the Polish Republic, and to take appropriate actions.

Your sincerely,

* * *

Ms Katrina Luba Farrell
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2EH
United Kingdom

Dear Ms. Farrell

We are writing to inform you of our concern about possible financing of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

As the accident at Chernobyl demonstrated, the dangers of nuclear accidents are not confined to the country in which they occur. Completion of the Soviet designed reactor at Mochovce presents direct danger to the people of my country. In addition to our concerns about safety, we believe that the use of intentional funds for the completion of these reactors is inappropriate, given the potential for energy saving and other alternative energy options that exist in Slovakia.

Because of our concerns we are interested in participating in the Environmental Assessment and public participation for the Mohovce Nuclear Power Plant.

We would appreciate if you could inform us about the Environmental Assessment process and public participation process when it begins.

Thank you for your time and assistance. We are waiting to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

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Editor's note: We publish only two letters - next ones are essencially the same.