Irish Fury at N-Plant Start-Up

Irish Fury at N-Plant Start-Up

Oct 02 - Belfast Telegraph

THE controversial new nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield has opened for business, pushing Anglo-Irish relations to their lowest ebb in years.

After standing empty for more than five years, the mixed oxide (Mox) plant began preparing to recycle used uranium and plutonium to produce fuel for power stations across the world.

The development was hailed as "wonderful news" by British Nuclear Fuels Limited, the company that runs the plant, and welcomed locally as a jobs boost.

But yesterday's 2.15am move provoked the fury of the Irish Government.

Joe Jacob, minister with responsibility for nuclear safety, described the action by the British authorities as "one of supreme arrogance".

"It defies logic. It defies reason. It defies the laws of natural justice," he said.

Green Party deputy John Gormley, who led a protest outside the plant yesterday, also expressed outrage that Britain had allowed the plant to open.

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