Nuclear security debate reopened after incursions into French plant

The nuclear security debate was reopened here Monday after almost 30 activists opposed to nuclear power breached heightened protection measures and entered a plant in south-central France before being arrested. The incursion into the prohibited zone of the Tricastin nuclear plant is the latest in a number of incidents involving breaches of nuclear plant's perimeter security and even aerial penetration of a site using hang-gliders. "France Info" radio said Monday that the 29 intruders at Tricastin earlier in the day were from the "Greenpeace" environmental group which has been at the centre of several such actions in past years. Tricastin, located in the Drome region, 200 kilometres north of Marseille, is one of 58 nuclear plants in operation in France, although one in Fessenheim, eastern France, is being examined for closure as it is the oldest plant in the country. France gets over 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear power, which is considered a strategic asset and one that is being viewed for long-term use. Greenpeace and other ecology movements have long argued that the nuclear energy sector in France is not secure and they have blocked trains carrying spent fuel and also penetrated several plants to show they are vulnerable. They have even undertaken scuba operations to block underwater pipes at a plant on the North Sea. The French Interior Ministry said on Monday that the activists at Tricastin had not managed to reach sensitive or vital areas of the plant and were arrested several hours after entering the facility. A number of foreign nationals were among those detained. Greenpeace says that it carried out the operation to demonstrate that nuclear plants are still not secure despite an increase in vigilance and protection after environmental "commando" operations in past years. The main argument by Greenpeace is that the nuclear plants are vulnerable to terrorist attack, which would be catastrophic for the surrounding areas. Statements from the environmentalists said that it took only 20 minutes to enter the plant and get on top of some of the structures.