Activists Make Double Trouble for EDF

In the run up to the Energy Bill published on 29 November 2012, which leading environmentalists agree gives covert subsidies to the nuclear industry, activists blockaded two of EDF Energy’s nuclear power stations. Subsidies for nuclear power will come via two sources: ‘contracts for difference’ that allow utilities to claim a top up from bill-payers if the electricity price falls below an agreed ‘strike’ price, and the hugely expensive legacy of nuclear waste and decommissioning. Dealing with this legacy already accounts for approximately two thirds of the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) budget.

At 6am on 23 November, four activists locked themselves together with arm tubes and lay down on the only road to Hinkley Point nuclear power station, preventing the morning shift from starting work. The activists object to EDF Energy’s destruction of land at the proposed Hinkley C site and their plan to extend the life of aging reactors at Hinkley B. Concerns have been raised over cracks in the graphite core at Hinkley B.

Local mum Nikki Clark said, “Not only do we not need new nuclear, we certainly don’t need to extend the life of the existing reactors even further…. Do we have to have our own Fukushima here in Somerset before we abandon this insanity and embrace a renewables revolution in the UK?”

The activists blocked the gates for four and a half hours during which time no workers were able to enter or leave the power station. A specialist police cutting team was called in to remove the activists and four arrests were made.

EDF security breathed a sigh of relief once their Somerset site was reopened for business, but come Monday morning they had another blockade on their hands. At 6.45am on 26 November, another four activists locked together in arm tubes were discovered blockading the entrance to Sizewell nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast where EDF Energy have plans for another twin reactor.

The all-female blockade chose to highlight the issue of nuclear waste on the Sizewell site with “Waste of our Future” banners. The activists braved the cold and wet for more than seven hours before a police cutting team removed them. One woman was arrested and three received cautions.

The blockades follow a ‘Reclaim Hinkley’ mass trespass during which common land near Hinkley Point was occupied by 70 protesters, with 30 activists successfully gaining access to the proposed Hinkley C site. These actions show that the campaign to stop new nuclear is gathering momentum at this crucial time for UK energy policy.

For more information visit www.stopnewnuclear.org.uk or www.hinkley.org

By Katharine Tatum