Challenge to new fuel plant at Sellafield planned

The Government is to challenge a new Sellafield nuclear fuel reprocessing plant before an international arbitration tribunal, which could create significant tensions with London.

The unprecedented action before the 14-nation OSPAR Convention, which monitors pollution in the north-east Atlantic, has been prompted by Britain's refusal to release papers about the controversial plant.

Yesterday, the Minister of State for Public Enterprise, Mr Joe Jacob, said the Irish case was that the plant was neither economically nor socially justified and should be closed. The £300 million plant will reprocess nuclear rods from Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere.

Last night, OSPAR said it had no formal notification as yet from Dublin.

Under its rules, a conciliation effort will first have to be made using its offices before an arbitration tribunal can begin. If that fails, Ireland and Britain will each be able to appoint one arbitrator. The two selected will then choose a third. If they fail to agree, the International Court of Justice in The Hague will supply a person.

The Government has already begun preparations to challenge Sellafield's existence under EU law. "We have hired a queen's counsel and work on that case is ongoing," Mr Jacob said yesterday.