"When the 1st block of Temelin will be restarted, even though an investigation into a not approved repair that can endanger nuclear safety has not been concluded, this would signify a clear violation of the Atomic Law and its regulations," announced Jiri Tutter, director of the Czech Greenpeace office.

Greenpeace requested already for the third time to get access to information on the results of the inspection by SUJB, investigating suspicions of illegal welding work and falsification of documentation of repairs at Temelin's 1st block (2). Three times the legal requests from Greenpeace were turned down with each time other reasons. This time SUJB argued that the intensive inspection carried out in the year 2000 has until now not been closed.

"The Czech atomic law luckily enough counts with these kinds of circumstances and protects the nuclear safety of its citizens. If there are clear indications that nuclear safety may me jeopardised, the nuclear reactor may not be started until the investigations have been closed. If SUJB did not conclude the investigation into the non-approved welding, it cannot give Temelin owner CEZ permission to restart Temelin's 1st block this week," explains Jan Haverkamp, Greenpeace campaign director.

Greenpeace appealed against the refusal of SUJB to give the requested information, to which the public has access according to the Czech law on freedom of access to information (law 106/1999 Sb.). In case this appeal is not successful, Greenpeace will turn to court.

"The public has a right to know whether a for nuclear safety critical welding seam in the nuclear part of the Temelin reactor was done according to prescriptions or not," concludes Haverkamp.

Further information

Ing. Jiri Tutter, Director Greenpeace in the Czech Republic, tel.: +420.2.2431 9667, e-mail: jiri.tutter@cz.greenpeace.org [Czech, English]

Ir. Jan Haverkamp, Greenpeace Campaign Director in the Czech Republic, mobile: +420.603.569 243, e-mail: jan.haverkamp@cz.greenpeace.org [English, German, Dutch, Czech]

Vaclav Vasku, Greenpeace Press Speaker, mobile: +420.603.414 739 Internet: http://www.greenpeae.cz/temelin

Notes for the editor:

(1) Renewed start-up of the 1st block of Temelin would be from the side of SUJB and Temelin operator CEZ an infringement on the Atomic Law no. 18/1997 and related regulations, e.g. Regulation no. 214/1997 Sb. SUJB, paragraph § 24 (7), which says that at the time of investigations into possible consequences of a discovered non-compliance important for nuclear safety it is needed to treat the non-compliance as if it is a defect with the highest negative impact on nuclear safety and enforce the consequent caution. See for instance:
* Law no. 18/1997, § 40,
* Regulation no. 214/1997 Sb. on the protection of quality for activities resulting in irradiation: § 5a, §12c, §15b, c, § 24 (7)
* Regulation no. 195/1999 Sb. on requirements for nuclear installations and upholding nuclear safety: § 22 (1) a, c, d, f

(2) Basic documentation on this case can be found on the Internet address: http://www.greenpeace.cz/temelin/aktax.htm [Czech]. English documentation can be sent upon request.