Date:Friday 9th June. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Esbjerg, Denmark--9 June 1995--A Shell report - leaked by Greenpeace today at the North Sea Conference -- reveals that contrary to previous Shell assertions, the Brent Spar could feasibly be towed back to land and decommissioned at a cost less than a quarter of the amount Shell quoted in its original estimates.
The report*, produced by Smit Engineering in 1992, is a 200 page analysis. It shows that the structure of the Brent Spar could be repaired to enable it to be towed safely back to shore.
Yesterday UK Minister for the Environment John Gummer said at the North Sea Conference that the Spar would only be disposed of in the most environmentally safe manner. However, Greenpeace understands that the Department of the Environment had no knowledge of this report. it was not included in Shell's key submissions to the Government -- the Best Practical Environmental Options (BPEO) and the Abandonment Hypothesis.
The Smit report describes how the Spar could safely be dismantled on land rather than sinking it together with its "cargo" of toxic and radioactive waste. This could be done at a cost of no more than 10 million pounds. Shell have said that on-land decommissioning would cost 45 million pounds.
"It seems hat the UK Government did not have the best information on which to base their decision to dump the Brent Spar at sea. Shell seem to have kept this vital information very quiet," said Mary Morrison, Greenpeace spokesperson. "There is no justification at all for dumping 14,500 tonnes of toxic rubbish in the sea -- John Gummer must stop it now."
Most of the other North sea States have opposed the dumping of the Brent Spar. Today the Ministers will take a decision on whether all offshore oil installations should be disposed of on land. There are some 400- oil rigs in the North Sea - 50 of which will come up for decommissioning within the next ten years.
Meanwhile Shell is continuing with the work to decommission. The Greenpeace ship Moby Dick, which is monitoring activities at the Brent Spar in the North Sea, confirms that three vessels -- one carrying explosives plus two towing tugs - are in the area. The blowing of the anchor chains to prepare for towing is imminent and work could begin as early as tonight.
* Feasibility Study - Phase I, II and III - for scrapping of the Brent Spar prepared by Smit Engineering BV. Attached are key pages from the report.
For information:
Cindy Baxter Greenpeace Communications ++44 171 833 0600;
Simon Reddy, Paul Horsman 44 171 354 5100;
Sue Coop
Esbjerg, Denmark--9 June 1995--Greenpeace today welcomed the important agreement of the North Sea States to end the discharge of all hazardous chemicals into the North Sea and the wider environment.
Greenpeace now demands that all North Sea governments give urgent priority to achieving this as soon as possible. The chemical industry, despite putting heavy pressure on Governments, has been totally defeated. Most North Sea States also agreed to end the dumping of oil installations at sea. The UK still insists however that the Brent Spar should be dumped in the face of severe criticism.
"Years of campaigning by Greenpeace have finally paid off," said Tim Birch, Greenpeace North Sea Campaigner. "North Sea Governments now recognise that it's unacceptable to allow industries to dump toxic waste into rivers and the sea. Provided Governments live up to this agreement, the North Sea now has a chance to recover after years of abuse. This is a resounding defeat for the chemical industry who have always seen the seas as their private toxic sewer," said Birch.
The Conference agreed on the following:
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES:
All Ministers, except the UK, agreed to end the discharges, emissions and losses of all man-made synthetic hazardous substances into the environment within 25 years. This means that the current system of giving permits for discharges which contain synthetic chemicals will be phased out. Industry has a maximum period of 25 years within which to convert to clean non-polluting technologies.
OFF-SHORE OIL INSTALLATION AND THE BRENT SPAR:
Most of the North Sea States have severely condemned the UK for the imminent dumping of the Brent Spar. Greenpeace welcomes that most North Sea States have agreed that it is totally unacceptable to dump offshore installations at sea and recommend the decommissioning of rigs on land. The only objections to this recommendation came from the UK, France and Norway. The UK Government and Shell continue to view the North Sea as their private dumping ground for rubbish.
RADIOACTIVE WASTE:
North Sea States have agreed that radioactive discharges to water bodies should be reduced yet the UK Government is to allow a massive increase in discharges from the THORP plant at Sellafield and increases in emissions are taking place in France from Cap de la Hague. Greenpeace condemns the hyprocrisy of the UK Government to allow such increases in the face of agreement to reduce.
NUTRIENTS All countries apart from the UK agreed a need for measures to prevent eutrophication caused by nutrients throughout the North Sea. This is a positive move because previous measures covered only some areas of the North Sea.
FISHERIES Despite the catastrophic situation of North Sea fish stocks, the conference totally failed to deliver the strict conservation measures urgently needed. Obviously, North Sea environment ministers are lacking the political will and the courage to denounce fisheries management failures and the disastrous consequences. They are simply condemning the marine environment and the fishing communities dependent upon it.
More information from:
Sue Cooper - 75 45 33 64.