The National Maritime Museum, Swansea

Greenpeace today called for an inquiry into how timber from endangered rainforests is being used in National Lottery funded construction work at the National Maritime Museum, Swansea.

In a letter sent to the head of Swansea City Council, Councillor Chris Holley, and Michael Houlihan of the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Greenpeace are demanding to know how timber from the last remaining forests of Indonesia and Malaysia has ended up being used on the site. It is estimated that nearly 90 percent of all logging in Indonesia is illegal.

Greenpeace monitoring has revealed that timber from the rainforests of South East Asia, home to the critically endangered orang-utan and a host of other endangered species, has been used for the flooring and structural fixtures in recent construction work. Indonesian plywood had been supplied by a company, Tjipta Rimba, who are known to source timber from the tropical forests of Sumatra - home to the critically endangered Sumatran tiger, where habitat loss from illegal logging and forest clearance is pushing the species to the brink of extinction.

Ironically, the National Maritime Museum project has a clear specification clause in place to use timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which ensures that timber comes from legal and sustainable sources. The use of South East Asian rainforest timber on the site shows that the contract has not been implemented.

Since 2000, Government departments have been expected to buy timber from legal and sustainable sources, yet these guidelines have not been extended to Non-Departmental Public Bodies, like the National Lottery. It is clear that on many lottery funded projects little effort has been made to ensure timber used comes from well managed forests. Greenpeace is calling on National Lottery to introduce strict guidelines and monitoring of timber use on their projects, like the National Waterfront Museum, to ensure that all timber comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Nathan Argent, Greenpeace Forests Campaigner, said: "The worlds rainforests are being trashed for cheap timber products like plywood which are then used on building projects like this one."

"If we don't want to confine these rainforests to history, it is essential that in the future all National Lottery and Local Authority projects in the UK ensure that FSC timber is used on building projects - currently the only way to guarantee that your timber has come from legal and well-managed forests."

The National Maritime Museum, which has received over £11 million of National Lottery money, is one of 10 Lottery-funded sites that are being monitored by Greenpeace to see whether the timber they are using can be shown to be coming from well-managed forests. In September, Greenpeace halted lottery funded refurbishment work at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, after it was exposed for using endangered merbau, also from South East Asian rainforests. The flooring contract was suspended, and an alternative species, European Beech, is now being used to complete the work.

The National Waterfront museum in Wales is not the first Lottery funded project in the country to use rainforest timber. Greenpeace research has shown that the £40 million Lottery funded Cardiff Millennium Stadium has used uncertified timber decking from Africa's Forest of the Great Apes where illegal logging is rife and species such as gorillas and chimpanzees face extinction in the wild.

For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255.

North Hoyle view - the UK's first offshore wind farm

• First offshore wind electricity flows ashore

• Prime Minister and Greenpeace hail future 'transformed by clean energy'

• Greenpeace and npower launch development fund for renewables

The UK's vast wind power potential will become a reality today (21 November 2003) when Britain's first major offshore wind farm begins to deliver electricity ashore.

The North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm is located 7-8 km off the North Wales coast between Prestatyn and Rhyl. It will be officially 'switched on' at events staged jointly in North Wales and London by energy supplier, npower, and environmental group Greenpeace. Energy Minister Stephen Timms will attend the London launch.

In an address to be broadcast at both events, the Prime Minister praised the unique alliance between npower and Greenpeace stating, "I am pleased to celebrate what even a few years ago would have been the most unlikely of partnerships - npower and Greenpeace - and their inauguration of the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm."

He went on to congratulate those involved in the project. "Rolling out this first large-scale offshore wind venture is a highly significant step toward achieving Britain's renewables goal. We are on our way to a future that can be transformed by the use of clean forms of energy. I look forward to celebrating further successes with you along the way," he said.

The project took eight months to complete and will offset the release of 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per year. The thirty turbines will supply clean power for up to 50,000 homes.

Andrew Duff, Chief Executive Officer of npower and RWE Innogy, which built North Hoyle, said it would be a tangible symbol to people who want to protect the environment. "All too often people think of the big issues like global warming and feel powerless to do anything about it.

Through our clean electricity, we can help people across the country make a difference. For every unit of electricity taken from the National Grid by customers of npower Juice, we will replace it with a unit of electricity from North Hoyle. This will effectively offset their electricity use and help reduce the greenhouse gasses entering the atmosphere."

Stephen Tindale, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK welcomed North Hoyle's completion and urged more action to encourage the development of renewable technologies. "This is the beginning of mainstream wind power development and the dawn of a new clean energy era for Britain. Global warming is the greatest threat facing the planet, but the power flowing ashore today demonstrates we have the solutions to tackle it. It's great news for all our futures." he said.

Energy Minister Stephen Timms said: "We've set the target so that, by 2010, we want 10% of our electricity to be generated from renewable resources. It's clear that perhaps as much as 80% of that will be from wind farms like this one, the first commercial large scale offshore wind farm in the UK - it's a pioneering development."

npower Juice Fund launched to boost fledgling renewables projects
npower and Greenpeace today also announced the creation of the "npower Juice Fund", designed to assist the development of projects in other renewable energy fields such as wave and tidal energy. npower will make an annual contribution of £10 for every customer that stays with npower Juice - up to a maximum of £500,000 per year.

"Juice customers have helped speed up the development of Britain's first offshore wind farm, now they can also support the next generation of clean energy sources," said Tindale.

North Hoyle was developed by National Wind Power, part of RWE Innogy, Britain's largest producer of renewable energy. The wind farm will have a total installed capacity of 60 megawatts (MW).


Notes to editors

1. North Hoyle was constructed by a consortium comprising Vestas Celtic Wind Technology and Mayflower Energy, both UK-based companies. Approximately 85% of the capital expenditure of North Hoyle has been placed with companies based in the UK. Further details about the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm can be found at www.northhoyle.co.uk

2. In addition to npower Juice, in June 2002 npower also announced a partnership with the UK's leading solar company Solar Century to look into developing solar energy 'accounts' for domestic and business electricity users. To register for npower Juice, consumers anywhere in the UK can telephone the hotline on 0800 316 2610 or log on to www.switchtojuice.com

3. npower is one of the UK's largest energy providers supplying gas, electricity, home maintenance, warranty and conveyancing services to over 6 million customers anywhere in the UK mainland. It is a subsidiary of RWE Innogy. www.npower.com/juice

4. Greenpeace is an independent non-profit global campaigning organisation that uses creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and their causes. It researches the solutions and alternatives to help provide a path for a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace does not financially benefit from Juice.

5. National Wind Power has developed the leading position in the UK wind power market. Formed in August 1991, the company is also a subsidiary of RWE Innogy and has offices in South East England, South West England, North East England, Wales and Scotland. NWP's team of over seventy professional staff have more experience of wind farm development and management in the UK than any other group. www.natwindpower.co.uk 6. While North Hoyle was being constructed Juice was sourced from existing onshore wind sources and a hydro plant based in Dolgarrog in the Snowdonia Mountains, which uses the plentiful natural supply of water to generate electricity. As a Juice customer, for every unit of electricity you use, a unit of Juice electricity is purchased by npower on your behalf. This means that although the electricity you receive is no different to normal electricity, it is ensured that an equivalent amount of electricity to that which you use is generated from clean, renewable sources.

7. Numerous studies indicate that in theory offshore wind could supply the total UK electricity requirement. In addition, the skills acquired over the decades in the oil and gas industry make the UK uniquely positioned to exploit this abundant renewable resource, with substantial potential for job creation in the new industry.

8. One of the major causes of global warming and climate change is the emission of large volumes of the gas carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting from, amongst other things, the generation of electricity by burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. Every unit of electricity generated from the wind, however, whether on land or at sea, takes the place of a unit that would otherwise have been generated by a fossil fuel power station, thus helping to reduce CO2 emissions and combat climate change.

Pictures

Images of North Hoyle have been distributed to picture desks by Newscast and can also be sourced from: www.newscast.co.uk (registering is quick and free - follow instructions) or by calling 0845 070 2807

Publication date: January 2001

Summary
Wylfa is an old power station, already operating well past its sell-by date. It is currently closed following the discovery of unexpected safety-related problems in April 2000. Despite a history of safety problems, its owners, BNFL Magnox, not only want to continue operating it, but also to extend its life to 50 years.

BNFL Magnox is proposing to manage the current safety problems, rather than repair them. Their strategy is aimed at restarting the reactors as soon as possible, and it inevitably carries with it safety implications.

Nuclear fallout from the Chernobyl accident on April 26 1986 spread radioactive contamination over Europe, with Wales being particularly badly affected. The levels of contamination led to Government restrictions being imposed on sheep holdings in North Wales. Hundreds of square kilometres of land in Wales are still operating under these restrictions because of the continuing high levels of contamination in sheep [1].

Environmental organisations are warning that safety problems at the Wylfa nuclear power station on Ynys M'n mean that the area would live under the threat of another nuclear accident if the station is ever allowed to restart. They are calling for its permanent closure [2].

The station was shut in April 2000 following the discovery of defects in welds on pipes inside the reactor pressure vessel. BNFL plans to get permission to restart the reactors by fitting 'restraints' to the outside of the pressure vessel. However, the nuclear industry's safety regulator admits that this measure would not stop the defective welds from breaking open, it would merely limit the extent of a radioactive release if they did break. [3]

A report commissioned by Greenpeace from independent consultant engineers Large & Associates concluded that a failure of the welds could ultimately lead to a severe accident and significant releases of radioactivity [4].

"The last thing that Wales needs is the threat of another nuclear accident spreading deadly radioactive contamination over the country. The only sane thing for BNFL can do is shut the station down for good, and allow the country to move towards a safe and environmentally sustainable energy future" said Bridget Woodman from Greenpeace.

Dylan Morgan from PAWB said "radioactive releases don't respect geographical boundaries. Experimenting with reopening Wylfa's reactors is a totally unacceptable risk for BNFL to take with the health and safety of the population of Wales."

A WANA spokesman warned "The British 'muddling through' approach to our older clapped out reactors threatens a catastrophe. We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff."

Jill Stallard from CND Cymru stated: "The Chernobyl disaster has left one in three children in Belarus sick, and made an area the size of Britain permanently contaminated and uninhabitable . Restarting Wylfa is a risk too great to take. Nuclear power is past its sell by date, unsustainable and not the way forward for a nuclear free Wales for the future of our children and our children's children."

Neil Crumpton, energy spokesperson for FOE Cymru said, "As the tragic human and economic consequences of the Chernobyl disaster continue to unfold across the Ukraine and beyond, the least we should do is ensure any similar nuclear disaster does not happen in the UK."

Notes for Editors:
[1] The most recently published figures for Wales show approximately 530 square kilometres of land under Government restrictions, covering about 359 whole and partial holdings (More areas freed from Chernobyl Sheep restrictions, National Assembly for Wales press release, 21 January 1998). See map for details of affected areas.

[2] Groups calling for Wylfa's closure: PAWB (People Against Wylfa B/Pobol Atal Wylfa B), WANA (Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance), CND Cymru, FOE Cymru, Greenpeace

[3] Nuclear Safety Newsletter, Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, October 2000

[4] Review of Ageing Processes and Their Influence on Safety and Performance at Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, Large & Associates, March 2001.

Speakers at the launch, held at the National Assembly, included report author, independent nuclear engineer John Large, Assembly Members Mick Bates (Liberal Democrats) and John Griffiths (Labour) and Dylan Morgan from PAWB (People Against Wylfa B/Pobol Atal Wylfa B).

Wylfa nuclear power station is currently closed following the discovery of defects in welds in the pressure vessel containing the nuclear reactor. Plant operators British Nuclear Fuels Ltd [2], are planning to reopen the reactors without repairing the welds. Instead, they want to fit 'restraints' which would limit rather than prevent radioactive discharges in the event of an accident.

In his presentation Mr Large highlighted the potential catastrophic consequences of defective welds inside the nuclear plant and the ageing and deterioration of other vital reactor components.

He also highlighted ongoing deterioration of the reactor system as the inevitable result of ageing, including:

• The cracking of plates around pipework from the reactor boilers;
• The corrosion of steel components inside the reactor, in particular the "core restraint garter" which surrounds the core of the nuclear reactor;
• Corrosion or loss of volume in the graphite core of the reactor.

At the launch Mr Large argued that the inevitable deterioration of these components mean it is increasingly difficult to predict what might happen in an accident. He stated that the 'worst case scenario' accident for Wylfa is in fact far more serious than has previously been admitted by the NII.

He concluded that if Wylfa is allowed to re-open, a failure of the welds and the weakened reactor components could combine to result in uncontrolled, large-scale releases of radioactivity.

Mr Large also criticised regulation of nuclear safety regime by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) as secretive and lacking in rigour.

Greenpeace is launching the report at the National Assembly because of the interest that the Assembly has in issues of nuclear safety. A nuclear accident could have a serious impact on the environment, economy and the health of people in Wales. Officials for the Minister for the Environment have regular, formal meetings with the NII, but information on the discussions is not publicly available [3].

The report launch is part of a campaign to keep the reactors closed which is supported by other Campaign Organisations in Wales [4]. The campaign is demanding that the National Assembly ensures that all information on nuclear safety is made public, and that the Minister for the Environment should ask the NII to keep the reactors closed.

Report author John Large said,
"I am very surprised to learn that the NII are allowing BNFL to proceed with what I can only describe as an expedient bodge job. The NII are allowing BNFL to fit an external restraint system which does not address the fundamental problem of cracks in welds of a safety critical component of the reactor system. If any one of these safety systems should fail, the resulting intrusion of tonnes of superheated steam into the reactor will considerably test the core restraint system. It has been known that these systems are subject to ageing and strength degradation since the reactors were commissioned in 1971".

He continued, "Like the NII, I consider there to be a great deal of uncertainty about the state of the reactors, but unlike them, I would not consider allowing it to restart".

Assembly Member Mick Bates said,
"The Assembly must play a greater role in nuclear safety especially in view of our commitments to sustainable development, which means an increasing focus on renewable energy."

Dylan Morgan of PAWB (People Opposed to Wylfa B) said,
"There is deep distrust in Wales of nuclear safety at Wylfa. Our recent campaigning has shown widespread public support for an end to this nuclear threat. Wylfa should be shut for good".

Greenpeace Campaigner Bridget Woodman said,
"BNFL wants to play Russian Roulette with human health and the environment. Wylfa's ageing reactors should be shut down now, not patched up and run until a major nuclear accident occurs. The National Assembly - and the Minister for Environment in particular - should demand to know why the NII is letting BNFL proceed with its dangerous re-start plan".

Editor's notes:
[1] Review of Ageing Processes and their Influence on the Safety and Performance of Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, John Large, Large and Associates.

[2] Who own and operate the station through their Magnox Electric subsidiary

[3] On 8 march 2001, Sue Essex, Minister for Environment, stated that "My officials have regular and frequent contact with both [the NII and the HSE]. The most recent formal meeting was held at the National Assembly on 21st November 2000 and covered briefing on the current situation at Wylfa".

[4] The campaign is supported by PAWB (People Against Wylfa B/Pobol Atal Wylfa B), a group based on Anglesey, WANA (Welsh Anti-Nuclear Alliance) and CND Cymru.

Further information:
Contact:
Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255