|
|
|
Stop EBRD funding
A SEED Europe, in close cooperation with many other organizations, has
taken the initiative for an International Day of Protest against the proposed
funding of two nuclear reactors by the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD).
On Monday, December 14th, protests will be staged at various sites all
over Europe, to show the widespread resistance against using taxpayers
money from the EBRD to finance another Chernobyl in the making. How exactly
the protest will be organized is up to the participating organizations.
This day of protest is an open event, protests will of course be peaceful,
but they will be loud!
ACT NOW! If they approve the loan: The EBRD will come up with a loan of 190 million
US dollar, probably followed soon by much bigger loans from Euratom and
Western export credit agencies. Nothing will stop the Ukrainian sponsor,
Energoatom, to finish the reactors and put them into operation then.
But if they say NO: It is very likely that the whole project will be
canceled, as it will be virtually impossible for the Ukrainian government
to obtain other loans. What's more, such a decision will probably take
the EBRD out of the financing of the nuclear sector altogether, one source
of funding less for the nuclear industry. This would be a huge victory
for the antinuclear movement.
JOIN THIS DAY OF PROTEST! If you want to join, contact jfrijns@antenna.nl of A SEED Europe, as soon as possible. We will then get in touch
with you. Regular updates on the preparations for this Day of protest will
be posted at this site.
SHORT BACKGROUND The Ukrainian government has made the closure of the remaining reactors
in Chernobyl dependent on getting loans from the West for the completion
of K2/R4. Completion of the K2/R4 project is expected to cost 1.72 bil.
USD. The project sponsors have approached the EBRD for a loan of 190 mil.USD
for the project. Additional funding for the project will have to come from
Euratom, Russia and from Export Credit Agencies from Europe, Japan and
the United States.
There are signs that the EBRD is not at all keen to come up with this
loan, as the project violates just about every condition the Bank has formulated
for such loans * . The Bank commissioned several studies which provided
enough reasons not to finance the project. However, the EBRD is under intense
pressure from the Group of Seven G-7, which has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Ukrainian Government to provide such loans in return
for the closure of all Chernobyl reactors. Countries like France and Germany,
supporting their national nuclear construction companies, are very keen
that the Bank decides in favor of such a loan.
* These conditions are that the safety has to be of the highest standard,
that the project must be sound in financial terms, that the project is
the least cost option to solve the problem (of energy provision) and that
the operators would be strong in terms of the ability to carry out the
project for a long period.).
If you want to have more background information, have a look at:
Multilingual Human Rights / Children's Rights Across the World |
