No to nuclear in Luxembourg

A resounding no to nuclear power is the message being sent out by nearly 23,000 residents who signed a petition to Luxembourg's government.

The document containing 22,860 signatures and gathered by the National Action Committee Against Nuclear Power, was delivered to the government today (Friday).

The organisation said in a statement: “This overwhelming support indicates that the demands of the Action Committee on the government for the permanent closure of nuclear power plants around Luxembourg, for an anti-nuclear policy in the EU and for a sustainable energy strategy for Luxembourg are based on a broad social consensus. The government is now required to implement this mandate.”

Those who signed the petition are particularly concerned about the risks posed by Cattenom's nuclear power station, which is located within a few kilometres of Luxembourg's border with France.

The site recently underwent stress tests but concerns have been raised that the criteria did not examine the impact of an earthquake on the safety of the plant.

The National Action Committee Against Nuclear Power and 22,860 signatories would like any extension of the site's lifetime reviewed. In the meantime, they are calling for a more coherent sustainable energy strategy for Luxembourg.