Environment Minister not consulted over Sellafield MOX plant

Environment Minister Sam Foster has revealed he was not consulted before a licence was issued for a controversial mixed oxide plant at Sellafield.

Mr Foster told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday that he had not been consulted by the government on the decision to press ahead with the MOX plant, on the same day members unanimously called for the closure of the entire nuclear plant located in Cumbria.

On Monday, an international court rejected an attempt by the Irish Government to halt the opening of the new mixed oxide nuclear reprocessing (MOX) plant on December 20.

Mr Foster said he had since written to his counterpart in Westminster Margaret Beckett, and Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Byers, on the security implications of the decision.

SDLP member MLA Eddie McGrady, meanwhile, tabled an amendment, calling on the government to withdraw the licence for the MOX plant and begin the rundown of Sellafield.

Mr McGrady described the commissioning of the MOX plant as “an unjustified and unnecessary expansion of nuclear operations”.

He said: “The September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, and the retributive air attacks by the USA and Britain on the Taliban in Afghanistan have precipitated concerns about a possible attack at Sellafield, the release of radioactive discharges into the atmosphere, and the impact of such discharges on the land and sea.

“Such concerns need to be reflected and recognised in the government’s clearly defined contract with the nuclear industry.”

A number of other local politicians including DUP leader Ian Paisley condemned the lack of consultation, adding he would be raising the issue in the House of Commons. (MB)