Geneva alarmed by ageing French nuclear plant

The Geneva authorities have outlined their legal complaint against the 43-year-old Bugey nuclear power plant in neighbouring France, which they claim “endangers lives and pollutes water”. A long legal battle is expected.  “Bugey: a major risk for Geneva”. The headline and the main photograph of the nearby French nuclear plant on the front page of Tuesday’s Tribune de Genève newspaper could not be clearer. According to the Swiss paper, last week’s decision by the Geneva city and canton authorities to file a criminal complaint over the ageing French nuclear reactor for “endangering lives and polluting water” sends a “clear message” to the French. Bugey is one of France’s oldest nuclear power plants, which entered into service in 1972, situated about 70 kilometres from Geneva as the crow flies in the Ain department. When fully operational, the site creates about 4.5% of France's electricity. It harnesses water from the Rhône River.  On Monday, the Geneva authorities ...