23/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - Extension of first reactor of Fessenheim - Greens speak out against French arrogance. “Even though the European criteria for the stress tests were decided upon in college at least one month ago by the European Commission, the French nuclear safety authority is using its own criteria and prefers to choose the lowest level of security”, said French MEP Yannick Jadot of France on Thursday, reacting to the announcement in Le Figaro of 23 June, of the likely 10-year extension for the oldest reactor at the Fessenheim power station (our translation throughout). His compatriot Sandrine Bélier described it as “incomprehensible that France is insisting, in light of events in Japan, on keeping a power station on life support when its continued use represents an unnecessary, direct and sustainable risk for a population base five times higher than that of Fukushima. Fessenheim has four times more incidents than any other power station. Its poor condition, obsolete technical characteristics and position below the level of the Alsace Canal, with possibilities of floods if the dykes fail or due to unexpected high waters, and on a seismic fault, are under-estimated risks which should lead to its immediate closure”. (E.H./transl.fl)