JAPAN: THE PACIFIC PINTAIL DEPARTS WITH CARGO OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL BOUND FOR BRITAIN AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY AND OPPOSITION FROM ACTIVISTS
Record ID:
645591
JAPAN: THE PACIFIC PINTAIL DEPARTS WITH CARGO OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL BOUND FOR BRITAIN AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY AND OPPOSITION FROM ACTIVISTS
- Title: JAPAN: THE PACIFIC PINTAIL DEPARTS WITH CARGO OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL BOUND FOR BRITAIN AMIDST TIGHT SECURITY AND OPPOSITION FROM ACTIVISTS
- Date: 5th July 2002
- Summary: (W3) TAKAHAMA, FUKUI PREFECTURE, JAPAN (JULY 4, 2002) (REUTERS) SLV "PACIFIC PINTAIL" LEAVING UCHIURA BAY, PASSING BY BANNER WITH "BNFL NEVER AGAIN" LV ANTI-NUCLEAR ACTIVISTS CHANTING "STOP MOX"; SLV GREENPEACE SHIP; SLV MORE OF PACIFIC PINTAIL DEPARTING (5 SHOTS) MV MORE OF PROTESTERS WATCHING THE SHIP DEPART, DEMONSTRATING; PACIFIC PINTAIL LOGO; LV PACIFIC PINTAIL IN BAY FLANKED BY SMALLER BOATS (4 SHOTS) SLV ROWS OF POLICE ON BOARD SHIP (2 SHOTS) SLV BOAT DOCKING AT PORT; SLV SECURITY CHECKS; SCU UNION JACK FLAG (4 SHOTS) SLV TWO CASKS BEING TRANSPORTED TO SHIP LV PAN KANSAI ELECTRIC'S TAKAHAMA NUCLEAR PLANT; SLV TWO CASKS ARRIVING; SCU LOCKS ON CASKS; SCU RADIATION WARNING SYMBOL; SLV CASKS BEING LOADED ONTO SHIP (4 SHOTS) SLV PACIFIC PINTAIL DOCKED IN FRONT OF POWER PLANT; SLV CASK BEING LIFTED ONTO THE SHIP; CRANE OPERATOR; SLV PEOPLE ON BOARD PACIFIC PINTAIL; SLV PACIFIC PINTAIL AT PORT; SLV POLICE PATROLLING BAY; SLV NEWS CONFERENCE BY TAKAHAMA NUCLEAR PLANT MANAGERS (8 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HISAO TAKAMOTO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KANSAI ELECTRIC SAYING "The basic strategy of Japan's long-term energy plan is the 'efficient utilisation of substances such as plutonium and uranium from re-processed, spent fuel' and we are in the process of carrying out the plu-thermal plan, which is a part of the country's strategy" SLV NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 20th July 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TAKAHAMA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA5432L8LKP282OZX77QWDA57CF
- Story Text: The Pacific Pintail has departed from a port adjacent to a nuclear power plant in central Japan carrying a load of nuclear material bound for Britain amidst tight security and opposition from anti-nuclear activists, who say the cargo may be at the risk of theft or attack.
The Pacific Pintail, carrying nuclear material bound for Britain, slipped out of a Japanese port under tight security on Thursday (July 4, 2002), defying protests from anti-nuclear activists who said the cargo could be at risk of theft or attack.
The departure of the ship, carrying a potentially weapons-usable mix of plutonium and uranium oxides (MOX) on U.S. Independence Day and came just days after the U.S. State Department warned of continuing potential for extremist attacks.
An air of tension surrounded the pier under the looming shadow of the nuclear power plant in Takahama, some 300 km (190 miles) west of Tokyo.
Police accompanied by dogs stood guard, two massive, 100-tonne nuclear transport casks were loaded onto the ships under the watchful eyes of some 20 security guards on the deck of the ship, which is equipped with a machine gun.
The MOX fuel is being returned to state-owned British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) after Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co Inc discovered that data for a 1999 shipment from Britain had been deliberately falsified. Kansai Electric had intended to use the fuel in commercial reactors.
The Pacific Pintail will be joined by the Pacific Teal for its long sea journey to ensure safety. The route is being kept under wraps.
Officials on the pier waved as the vessel cast off and headed out to sea, accompanied by several small coast guard ships.
Coast guard inflatables crowded Uchiura Bay, a serene and almost idyllic body of water surrounded by green mountains, and helicopters clattered overhead.
Some 100 protesters gathered in front of the gate to the power plant, holding signs saying "Stop MOX" and "Plutonium equals atom bombs".
Greenpeace deployed two inflatables and flew 12 yellow kites on a single string with "Stop Plutonium" written on them as the Pacific Pintail entered the bay early in the morning.
Greenpeace wants to see the material stored on land, rather than shipped across the world. On Thursday, the environmentalist group withdrew its application to the High Court in London to try to prevent British Nuclear Fuels shipping the weapons-usable plutonium from Japan to the UK shortly after the shipment set sail.
Lawyers for Greenpeace had planned to apply for an injunction to stop the shipment, which the group has described as a "floating target for terrorists" from leaving Japan.
Greenpeace claims the fuel, a mixture of plutonium and uranium oxides, contains 255 kg of plutonium enough to make 50 nuclear weapons.
The group is also seeking High Court permission to apply for a judicial review of the Environment Agency's decision not to treat the material, known as MOX, as radioactive waste.
Environmental campaigners have argued that the MOX is unlikely to be used as a fuel, given existing stockpiles of similar material already in Britain, but BNFL says the material is fuel and has a commercial value.
"The basic strategy of Japan's long-term energy plan is the 'efficient utilisation of substances such as plutonium and uranium from re-processed, spent fuel' and we are in the process of carrying out the plu-thermal plan which is a part of the country's strategy," Hisao Takamoto, managing director of Kansai Electric told reporters after the Pacific Pintail started its journey back to Britain. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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