For Immediate Use, 11 March 2003

Press realise
Sellafield Conference to discuss the effects of Technetium-99

A conference to discuss the effects of technetium-99 involving BNFL, the Bellona Foundation and Lofoten mot Sellafield will take place near Sellafield, West Cumbria this April 22 – 23.

Technetium-99 discharges have been routinely monitored in the North Atlantic. This conference will consider the health, environmental, economic, social and political implications of these discharges in the Nordic countries and the UK.

Recognising the concerns raised by these discharges, BNFL has joined the Bellona Foundation and Lofoten mot Sellafield in organising this joint conference so information can be shared and a balanced discussion take place.

The conference will hear views from a wide range of speakers from Nordic countries and the UK (programme overleaf).

Erik Martiniussen spokesperson for Bellona said, “This conference is a unique opportunity for Norwegian fishermen, organisations and Norwegian governmental representatives to meet their British counterparts. Together we shall discuss the environmental challenges met by the continuous discharges of technetium-99 from Sellafield and hopefully find concrete solutions.”

Per-Kaare Holdal spokesperson for Lofoten mot Sellafield said, “We have spoken on behalf of the fishermen along the North Atlantic Coastline for many years. In Lofoten, in the north of Norway, we have lived off fisheries for thousands of years, and we hope that our children and future generations will be able to do the same. Our sea is still clean and it’s necessary to keep it this way, therefore we have to discuss these discharges from Sellafield.”

Commenting on the conference, BNFL’s Head of Environment, Health, Safety & Quality for the Sellafield site John Clarke said, “We welcome the opportunity to establish what will hopefully be a mutually beneficial science based dialogue with those Nordic groups that have shown an interest in technetium-99 discharges from Sellafield. I sincerely hope that this conference will facilitate a balanced and accurate understanding of the technetium-99 issue which can then form the basis of future dialogue and co-operation.”

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Notes for Editors:

1. The Bellona Foundation was established in Norway as a non-profit environmental organisation in 1986. With offices in Oslo, Brussels, Washington, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, Bellona is an internationally based professional environmental organisation. Bellona’s work on the mapping of the nuclear threat from north west Russia has broken fresh ground, and is highly respected internationally. Also, having a programme for “cleaner energy solutions”, Bellona today is known for its reliable and well-documented environmental work.

2. Lofoten mot Sellafield is a grass-roots movement representing a region in the north of Norway where the local economy is principally based upon the fishing industry.

3. Media access to the event will be strictly controlled – only accredited media personnel will be allowed access to the conference. Accreditation applications for the conference must be received by 4 April 2003 at the latest. All applications should be e-mailed to jamie.reed@bnfl.com. In addition, all media personnel must adhere to the procedural rules established by the conference. All media personnel must strictly adhere to the Sellafield site procedures at all times during the visit of the site.

4. Transport to and from the conference venue will be provided.

5. Media facilities will be made available for the duration of the conference.

6. For further information please contact :

– BNFL Sellafield Press Office on 019467 85838/39/42/43

– The Bellona Foundation on 00 47 23 23 46 00 / 00 47 90 67 65 98

– Lofoten mot Sellafield on 00 47 91 10 60 45