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Vienna, 12 October 2001
- Greenpeace received from a reliable source new information, that confirms that there have been problems around a welding seam to the first reactor block of Temelin. The witness, who wants to remain anonymous, speaks about incomplete documentation during the investigation of a welding seam on the reactor. Dana Drabova, director of the Czech nuclear regulatory office SUJB maintains against better knowledge, that the investigation into the matter has been complete and the welding seam has been controled. "Greenpeace has strong evidence, that SUJB has been misleading, in my opinion willingly. SUJB did not fulfill its role as independent nuclear regulatory office and made itself to a helping agent of CEZ", said Jan Haverkamp, nuclear expert at Greenpeace.
Greenpeace heared in July 2000 from a reliable informer that a tube had been welded 180 degrees wrongly between the reactor block and the primary cooling circuit. This area is highly sensible and when breaking could cause a nuclear catastrophe. The informer participated himself in the welding work. The pipe was simply cut, turned and welded again. To cover up the incident, documentation was manipulated. Greenpeace then filed a criminal complaint. The police, carried out investigations, however, did not investigate the welding seam 1-4-5 that was indicated by the witness, but another one (1-1-5). Information about which welding seam to investigate could only have come from SUJB or from SUJB through CEZ. Greenpeace did not inform anybody else than SUJB about which pipe the witness identified.
During a meeting between Greenpeace and SUJB, a few days ago, SUJB director Dana Drabova stated that SUJB received complete documentation from the firm Modranska potrubni a.s., and that the documentation had been "in good order". This company was responsible for welding work on the reactor. Drabova stated further, that a complete analysis of the documentation had been caried out. During the same talks it became clear, however, that welding seam 1-4-5 had not been physically tested. The Greenpeace informer, that comes from circles around Modranska potrubni, declared to Greenpeace furthermore that the documentation that SUJB has at its disposal is incomplete and that there have been serious breaks of welding rules. Literally the informer said to a Greenpeace staff member: "What you know is only a fraction of that what really went wrong".
The witness does not want to be revealed by name, because he could expect exclusion from his profession. Other witnesses that indicated problems at Temelin have already been threatened and their families intimidated. Still the informer would be prepared to witness in court, in case of a process. "This case exposes complete failure of the whole nuclear quality and safety control on all the levels - from the subcontractor, through Skoda Praha, from the investor CEZ up to the so called independent state nuclear authority SUJB. This is unacceptable for the whole Europe!", Haverkamp said concluding.
Further information:
Franko Petri, Press spokes person Greenpeace, tel. 01-5454580-29 or 0676-5147246
Jan Haverkamp, nuclear expert Greenpeace, tel. 00420-603-569243
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