The final scoping report for Eskom's proposed new nuclear plant, the PBMR, has been completed and is now open to the public for comment. This is an important stage in the Environmental Impact Assessment being undertaken.
 
 
Media
Earthlife wins right to appeal 07 Jul 2006
Court Ruling on Pebble Bed Reactor 03 June 2003
ELA Shocked 26 June 2003
Countdown to deadline of appeal 21 July 2003
Nukes vs Climate Change 14 Aug 2003
Flawed Appeal Process 20 Aug 2003
Huge support for Earthlife 25 Aug 2003
Next Round of Court Action 15 Sept 2003
Cancer Risk 22 Jan 2004
ELA welcomes Nuclear Summit 02 Feb 2004
Koeberg's Secret Horror 06 Feb 2004
Nuclear Summit cancelled 17 Feb 2004
Who's Bluffing 04 Mar 2004
Cancer Risk Raised Again 08 Mar 2004
Cape Town at risk 21 May 2004
Call for a Nuclear summit 02 Jun 2004
Demand for Nuclear summit 04 Jun 2004
Nuclear is Definately Avoidable. 22 Jun 2004
Victory for ELA 26 Jan 2005
Cabinet Accepts Court Judgement 8 Feb 2005
National Budget Speech 25 Feb 2005
Protect our Children 21 Apr 2005
Unguarded Site 25 Apr 2005
ELA Call for Investigation 30 Apr 2005
New NNR Head Destrys Credibility 25 May 2005
Power Failures Reveal Safety risks 19 Nov 2005
ELA Loses Case for Eskom's Board Minutes 15 Dec 20
Koeberg's Secret Horror 06 Feb 2004


KOEBERG'S SECRET HORROR

6 February 2004

Koeberg workers lives are at risk, whilst the facility is keeping their medical history a secret and any interrogating the secret is at risk of losing their jobs, pension funds and medical benefits, reveals the Noseweek (February04). Ron Lockwood an ex-electronics technician who in the course of his work at Koeberg nuclear power station risked exposure to radiation from time to time. At his work he was also required to service the camera that monitors the nuclear reactor itself. In June 1996, having been a radiation worker at Koeberg for 15years , he was persuaded by Eskom's offer of a package to take early retirement.

After six years, Ron Lockwood will never have to enjoy his retirement as he is currently looking death in its face suffering from Leukemia secretly kept from him for many years. This is just a glimpse into the reality of destructive operations, the serious risks the workers are required to work under which implicate the ordinary people who are not necessary aware of the deadly dangers of nuclear energy.

Earthlife Africa would like to express a serious concern regarding the risks posed by Koeberg carelessness to the workers.  " It appears that there were dishonest and criminally negligent top officials who let this persist right under their noses" said Nosiphiwo Msithweni, community health researcher of Earthlife Africa. Mr. Lockwood was an average worker, who supposedly knew well the dangers of nuclear to human health and to the environment. Despite all that, Koeberg was able to misinform this person and kept secret his medical files and further threatened when he showed reluctance in signing a form that could have lost him his pension funds and medical benefits.

We therefore, call upon  government to take treat this as a matter of state emergency. We also call for an urgent national commission of enquiries that would investigate to the roots this despicable deed of Eskom. Critically, we call for the workers to come forward in working with us in making their working place safer.