The THTR Circulars from 2004

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THTR Circular No. 89 March 2004

Yes, Jülich!

With 4.200 employees, Forschungszentrum Jülich is the largest interdisciplinary research center in Europe. If you read his self-portrayals, it is a place of pulsating life and the home of an impetuous urge to research. Not too far from the Belgian border and therefore close to Brussels. Fixed point of the covetous glances of all lobbyists towards the multi-million euro funding pots. In this research center, research is tireless for technical progress - for the benefit of mankind, of course. Origin and cradle of the atomic pebble bed reactor, a never-ending source of eternal knowledge about the indisputable advantages of HTR technology. Out into the whole world with the good news, to South Africa, China, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, even the USA! In the luggage the certificate: Export with the tolerance of the federal government, because security research!

The small change required for these missions is still flowing in abundance, if necessary from EU coffers. No trace of a nuclear phase-out! Wintering under red-green is not difficult in Jülich. Because everything here is just for safety. And it has to be. State secretaries, ministers and members of parliament and those from industry have been here for decades. Parliamentary evenings, working groups, symposia, specialist conferences, panel discussions, workshop discussions and conferences of all kinds ensure lively and terrible intellectual exchange. A close-up dialogue between science, politics and business that is second to none. No question about it, the ministers and state secretaries, some of whom sit on the supervisory board of this research center, learn here on site - if necessary with the help of proven instructors - the complicated science of why nuclear energy is being phased out in this country and at the same time many millions of euros are still being invested in HTR research need to be plugged. For some it is still difficult to understand and that is why they are often guests here in Jülich to devote themselves to this problem. Fortunately, they only need to drive a few miles home. It's not very far to Düsseldorf or Bonn, where parts of the Federal Research Ministry still reside. How convenient! But despite this intensive intellectual exchange and mutual agreement about the need for research on the HTR line, the responsible ministerial bureaucracy is haunted by a language blockade and information inhibition that has not yet been adequately researched scientifically, which lasts for many months, when we as a citizens' initiative with a few very simple questions approach them. When they have finally found their language again, their exuberant words of thanks for our letters and our numerous reminders and the apologies for unfortunate office mistakes usually make up more than half of their response.

In any case, the ministries are essentially not very informative, although they confer constantly in Jülich. What are they talking about all the time when they have so little to say to us afterwards? Perhaps it is because our questions have to be asked more concretely and precisely and these ladies and gentlemen like the fact that every little piece of information has to be pulled out of their noses individually. We firmly reject the impression that we have recently been a bit too meticulous about our question. We only learn from our previous experience.

On 03.03. we asked the Federal Ministry of Education and Research whether it knew about the millions in funding at the EU level (see RB No. 88). And what it has done against the efforts of Forschungszentrum Jülich to further develop the HTR line and to intensively promote the construction of these reactors on an international level. Which open and possibly hidden donations this research center receives for the worldwide construction of this special line of nuclear reactors. Furthermore, we would have liked to know what form of Europe-wide cooperation the Ministry of Research specifically cultivates on nuclear power issues, what possibilities of influence exist and still exist. And of course, what the full extent of the HTR funding looked like, what is currently planned and whether this ministry will do anything. The 14 detailed questions can be read in more detail on our (current) homepage.

On February 16.02.2004, XNUMX, the "Junge Welt" reported in a lengthy article about HTR exports to Japan and China. The March issue of "anti atom aktuell" reprinted the January JW article on South Africa.

Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) names the National Atomic Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN) as a cooperation partner in the field of "process and component technology as well as safety improvement of nuclear facilities". The most populous Islamic country in the world was ruled by a military dictatorship under Suharto until 1998. Hundreds of thousands of members of the opposition were murdered during this time. There has been an interest in the construction of nuclear power plants in this emerging market, which is being courted by the nuclear industry, since the early 70s. In 1987 a nuclear research reactor (MPR-30) was put into operation in Serpong GA Siwabessy in cooperation with Germany. When a few months after the disaster in Chernobyl and the incident in THTR-Hamm in 1986 the social democratic NRW economics minister Reimut Jochimsen (see RB No. 63: "'Dealer' Jochimsen dead") visited this reactor in Indonesia, he recommended it Military government approved the construction of the German HTR technology (Ruhrnachrichten from February 20, 2).

The Siemens subsidiary Interatom, which had helped develop the THTR, had hopes for the nuclear business with Indonesia. On July 09.07.1987th, 10.07.1987, Indonesia's Minister of State for Research and Technology, Professor Habibie, visited the THTR in Hamm-Uentrop and had Klaus Knizia (VEW) explain his alleged advantages to him personally (WA of July 2th, 1989). In the following period, ABB and Siemens repeatedly emphasized their hope of an HTR export to Indonesia (Spiegel 27/1991). At the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency on June 12, 1991 in Vienna, the magazine "VGB Kraftwerkstechnik" (XNUMX/XNUMX) reported the following in the article "International interest in the high-temperature reactor": "M. Nurdin showed a special Indonesian interest in the better exploitation of oil fields with HTR steam, but also in coal gasification and liquefaction, combined heat and power and seawater desalination ".

The nuclear cooperation between the Jülich Research Center and Indonesia is also shown in a dissertation written in March 1992 by Lasman As Natio "Neutron physical investigations into the Indonesian research reactor MPR-30 with regard to the use of silicide fuel elements".

In 1997, the energy forecast ("Markal Study"), written with German support, describes the use of atomic energy in Indonesia as "essential". The international office of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) today names the Indonesian Authority for Nuclear Research (BATAN) as the most important partner for bilateral cooperation in the field of materials research and refers to an already developed network of German and Indonesian research institutions. In the meantime, more than 20.000 Indonesian students have been trained in Germany as part of the scientific and technical cooperation.

In 2002 and 2003, the Geesthacht Research Center (GKSS), which had been talked about due to nuclear accidents (with PAC beads from the HTR, see RB No. 82) and a high rate of leukemia in the area, carried out a scientific project in Jakarta (Indonesia).

Among other things, Professor Günter Lohnert gave guest lectures in Indonesia on the subject of inherently safe reactors and HTRs (see: Stuttgarter Unikurier 77/78). This man took over the "HTR safety analysis" department at Siemens / Interatom in 1973, wrote the article "The modular HTR - a new concept for the pebble bed reactor" in 1982 in the magazine "Atomwirtschaft" and in 1990 another English-speaking person about HTR modules in a specialist journal . In 1997, Lohnert took over the chair at the Institute for Nuclear Energy Technology and Energy Systems (IKE) at the University of Stuttgart, which has carried out HTR research with EU funds in recent years (see RB No. 88). Under his leadership, it is to be expanded into a "competence center for all relevant issues relating to nuclear energy".

In February 2000, Dr. Hans-Joachim Klar from the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, which cooperates intensively with the FZJ, has been appointed a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) by the Indonesian National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN). Klar has already held various seminars and workshops in Indonesia. "The appointment honors his achievements in various scientific collaborations with Indonesia" and "is based on a decree of the Indonesian government that regulates the activities of the nuclear energy supply (...)", RWTH Aachen wrote in a press release in March / April 2000.

All these pieces of the mosaic are evidence of decades of intensive technical and scientific cooperation between Germany and Indonesia, which has also taken place in the field of nuclear power research. The further development should be closely monitored. Even after the devastating and globally noticed Islamist terrorist attack on October 12.10.2002, XNUMX in Bali, the nuclear industry will not allow itself to be dissuaded from wanting to use this potential risk in Indonesia as well.

From January 16-17, a major conference on planning and developments in the nuclear field was planned in Cape Town (South Africa) as part of a civil society dialogue, in which the South African government wanted to participate.

The South African environmentalists and the Böll Foundation in South Africa had invested a lot of work in the preparation and had high hopes for this conference. Four days before the start, the South African government suddenly canceled this event. The environmentalists are very disappointed.

The reason for this rejection is presumed that the nuclear company Framatome (and thus also Siemens) wants to get into the South African nuclear business and want to build the pebble bed reactor here. Shortly before the South African elections in April, the government wants to prevent overly critical discussions from taking place in public and irritating potential investors.

The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) company is desperately looking for new investors to replace Exlelon (USA) and British Nuclear Field Limited (BNFL), which have already broken down. South African environmental activists have now revealed that the energy company Areva Group is supposed to deliver the new HTRs to Koeberg. This French holding company called Areva, founded in 2001, includes Framatome ANP and Cogema, the Framatome subsidiary FCI and the semiconductor manufacturer ST Microelectronics. Together they generate three quarters of their annual turnover of ten billion euros with nuclear technology, covering all areas from uranium mining and reactor construction to the reprocessing of fuels. Areva employs over 45.000 people and is 84 percent state-owned.

Siemens has been cooperating with Framatome and Cogema since 1989. In recent years Siemens and Framatome have merged their nuclear divisions. In line with the volume of business, the French hold 66% and the Germans 34% of the shares in the joint venture. Worldwide, the nuclear industry is moving closer together and trying to get new orders on an international level.

So it is no coincidence that last year an Areva spokesman met with high-ranking representatives from the South African energy supply company ESKOM and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry to make them an offer to build a nuclear power plant. During the last state visit by President Mbeki to Chirac in Paris in October last year, further discussions followed. With Anne Lauvergeon, a high representative of Areva sits on an important industrial advisory body for the South African President Mbeki. Obviously in order not to jeopardize the cooperation talks with the nuclear industry, the nuclear conference was canceled, although parts of parliament continued to plead for this conference to be held. Officially, this conference was only postponed until after the election on April 14th, in order to take the new election results into account in the composition of the conference. But the new government in South Africa will certainly be the same.

The "postponement" of the nuclear-critical conference is overshadowed by public discussions about the credibility of the nuclear industry. The operators of the already existing nuclear power plant in Koeberg are accused of falsifying medical reports on leukemia cases. The nuclear power plant was built by Framatome, among others. There is also criticism of the R12 billion that the proposed PBMR will cost the South African taxpayer. South African environmentalists are now planning protests in front of the French embassies in Cape Town and Pretoria.

"Thank you for your letters dated March 18 and November 18, 2003, in which you expressed your concerns about the further development of high-temperature reactor technology, especially in South Africa.

With the amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, the Federal Government and the Bundestag have set a binding framework for ending nuclear energy in Germany. State funds are no longer used in Germany for the further development of nuclear power plants. This also applies to HTR developments at home or abroad. The Federal Environment Ministry has information on current efforts in other countries to further develop HTR technology. Such activities do not only exist in South Africa, but also, for example, in China or the USA. European companies, for example the French Framatom, are also interested in the HTR development. Inquiries for security requirements and security assessments have also been received from these countries, which were used as the basis for the completed development work in Germany. I ask for your understanding that I cannot comment in detail on the questions you have raised, such as the contribution of Forschungszentrum Jülich or the proliferation risks of HTR technology, as the Federal Environment Ministry is not responsible for this. According to my information, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has commented on your questions for its area of ​​responsibility. "(09.02.2004/XNUMX/XNUMX)

Press release from the citizens' initiative for environmental protection on Trittin's answer:

This answer from Trittin is unreasonable. Not only did we have to wait almost a year for them, no, we are littered with the most flattering sayings. He doesn't say anything that hasn't been said in some way a hundred times. His press spokesman Michael Schroeren - former "Grassroots Revolution" editor in the 70s - had promised a detailed answer by telephone from the relevant specialist department at the beginning of January. In response to our questions in May of last year, the Federal Research Minister had to admit that the Jülich Research Center (FZJ) is still researching the HTR's expertise. So in Europe's largest "interdisciplinary research center" with 4.200 employees and an annual budget of 360 million euros, HTR is still being worked on and Trittin still claims that in Germany no more state funds are being used for the "further development of nuclear power plants".

In which rooms does the HTR research take place, who maintains it, who pays the running costs of this scientific enterprise, who provides the necessary "tools", provides the people entrusted with this research with the know-how that has been accumulated in this center for decades ?? Nobody from Rotgrün has given this research center really serious problems in recent years to continue researching the HTR line. 

Regarding foreign interest, Trittin says: "Inquiries for security requirements and security assessments have also been received from these countries, which were used as the basis for the development work that was completed in Germany." - What does this screwed up sentence mean anyway? What did he say to these inquiries (we suspect it!)? Does he himself work diligently with the nuclear industry on the further development of the HTR line - just for the sake of safety, of course?

The very special "Incident Chronicle" - an example of practiced closeness to the citizen in Hamm:

• 03.11.2003: The citizens' initiative for environmental protection Hamm, together with various other organizations, applies to the complaints committee of the city of Hamm that an exchange of experiences be established between Hamm and Cape Town on the subject of "dangers of high-temperature reactors" in order to give the citizens of South Africa the extensive communal experience with the THTR to make accessible.

   

• November 2003: The meeting of the complaints committee is canceled.

   

• December 01.12.2003st, XNUMX: The Lord Mayor writes to us: "I confirm receipt of your above-mentioned suggestion. You will shortly receive more information."

   

• December 2003: The meeting of the complaints committee is canceled.

   

• December 08.12.2003th, XNUMX: Lord Mayor Hunsteger-Petermann writes to us that he would recommend to the complaints committee to consider our submission as settled, since in his opinion there is no "concrete factual connection between the congregational task and suggestion".

   

• January 2004: The meeting of the complaints committee is canceled.

   

• January 30.01.2004th, 11.02.2004: The office of the complaints committee announces: "The meeting of the complaints committee on February 31.03.2004th, XNUMX is canceled, the present citizen's application will be dealt with in the meeting on March XNUMXst, XNUMX."

   

• 02.02.2004/XNUMX/XNUMX: We would like to point out the importance of the matter to the mayor and the complaints committee in a two-page detailed explanation (documentation below).

   

• 04.02.2004/19.05.2004/XNUMX: The reaction takes place immediately. The mayor's office informed us that our application would be dealt with in the complaints committee: "This will decide how to proceed. The next meeting of the committee will take place on May XNUMX, XNUMX, as the meeting in March will be canceled."

   

We cannot help but get the impression that, according to every trick in the book, a politically unpopular petition is being put on the back burner. If on May 19.05.2004th, 16 the complaints committee actually did - six months and XNUMX days after we received our submission! - If there is a meeting, then it could already be too late. If numerous South Africans had not appealed against the THTR near Cape Town, construction of this reactor would probably have started at this point in time.

We hope that the citizens of South Africa can hold off the approval for the construction of a new THTR until the complaints committee in Hamm manages to meet. Otherwise we will complain to him ...

On February 04.02.2004, XNUMX, the Westfälische Anzeiger reported in a lengthy article about these events.

Letter from BI to Mayor Hunsteger-Petermann from 02.02.2004/XNUMX/XNUMX:

We have received your letter dated December 08.12.2003th, 24. You declare our citizens' application formally with reference to the municipal code of North Rhine-Westphalia, § XNUMX, as completed, since you cannot see any concrete factual connection between our request - to establish an exchange of experience between the cities of Cape Town and Hamm - and the municipal task.

We regret this cancellation, but would like to raise the following concerns:

The city of Hamm - Federal Capital for Ecology and Nature Conservation 1998/99 and Ecological City of the Future - has already been approved several times by council resolution of supra-local alliances, such as B. joined the Climate Alliance of European Cities or the Cities for Peace initiative and has thus clearly expressed that global problems require global efforts - also on site at the municipal level. This is expressly to be welcomed! So far, the city of Hamm has confidently taken on these voluntary tasks. The purpose of these initiatives and alliances is, among other things, the mutual exchange of information to secure the future in our world.

The city of Hamm's many efforts in the area of ​​long-term city partnerships should not go unmentioned. These contacts have recently been intensified, as the examples in the Year of People with Disabilities show. The new exchange with the city of Istanbul - in cooperation with the city of Bradford - deserves special mention here. The efforts to cooperate within the framework of the International Hanseatic League of the Modern Era should not be disregarded. The support of the private initiative for the Hammer forced laborers deserves special mention.

The city of Hamm, through its partner "Lippeverband", also endeavors to cooperate with external (foreign) partners when planning the lead project of the master plan "Hamm on the water" - the LippeSEE.

So it should be noted that the city of Hamm has so far participated in a lively exchange of information on an international level.

If not the city of Hamm, who else should be able to convey their experiences with the THTR power plant in Uentrop-Schmehausen?

Whether questions relating to building law, questions about safety (disaster control plan), municipal investments to create the infrastructure, dealing with the THTR accident in 1986 or with the containment and the associated transport of nuclear waste, as well as the establishment of a round table - the city of Hamm has an immense wealth of experience in connection with the concrete consequences of a location for a nuclear pilot project. In this context, it should not be forgotten that the future of the THTR ruins has not yet been finally clarified - and what contribution the city of Hamm still has to pay for the removal of this highly explosive contaminated site.

The super-disaster in Chernobyl in particular made it clear that problems and questions relating to the nuclear risks associated with the use of nuclear power do not end at state, state or municipal boundaries.

The city of Cape Town is critical of the possible construction of a THTR variant 28 km from its city limits; the final decision is still pending in South Africa. It would therefore be helpful for the South Africans to be able to fall back on the wealth of experience of the city of Hamm. We cannot understand why you, Lord Mayor, do not want to offer the official representatives of the City of Cape Town this exchange of information. We do not see this as an inadmissible interference in the decision-making authority of a foreign municipality, but rather the offer to obtain comprehensive information before making such a decision - as this is certainly common practice in your company (keyword: cross-border leasing).

Especially against the background that it has not yet been conclusively clarified whether during the construction, operation and - as planned - when exporting this technology, fissile material can also be used for war purposes, we appeal to you to understand these dangers, which also affect us as a city Hamm in the future in the form of terrorist attacks or military operations could haunt Hamm to do everything humanly possible so that South Africa can make this location decision on the basis of well-founded expertise.

We would therefore like to ask you once again to reconsider your negative attitude.

Friday April 2nd: The European Social Forum and the Federation of Trade Unions have decided on days of action against the social cutback: company actions, strikes and hopefully also general strikes. In Germany there will be the "holiday protest" regretted by A. Roy in the form of the usual demonstrations again just one day later. Those interested in traveling to Cologne can contact the DGB in Hamm. Many buses are used. My assessment is below www.grassroots.net (Greetings and kisses with Otto).

Saturday April 10th: Beginning of the Easter march at the Pauluskirche in Hamm. Start: 10.30 a.m.

Dear readers!

Everyone who has not paid ten or twenty euros (depending on their income level) to continue receiving the THTR-Rundbrief in the past two years is hereby urged to do so!

The free delivery of half a dozen libraries and archives has been discontinued with issue 88. The costs for research work are rising quite sharply at the moment.

Fortunately, we currently have around one thousand hits a month on our homepage, on which you can also read this newsletter. As usual, the latest work results, press releases, questionnaires and the sparse responses from those responsible can be read under "News" every one to two weeks. The circulation of the circular has recently increased due to its inclusion in the mass mailing list of the WIGA Münsterland.

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