Sweden to close down Barseback plant

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

The following article was received from the Reuters News Service. It 
addresses the closure of the Swedish Barseback plant. Denmark 
applauds the closure due to the "major risk" posed by its proximity 
to Copenhagen. The rhetoric is similar to that heard in this country.

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 COPENHAGEN, Feb 3  - Denmark welcomed on Monday  
Sweden's decision to close down its Barseback nuclear power 
station, located within sight of Copenhagen and long a subject 
of dispute between the two normally placid Nordic neighbours. 
  ``The Barseback nuclear power station represents a major risk  due
to its location so close to Copenhagen,'' Danish Environment Minister
Svend Auken told the national Ritzau news agency. 
  ``There is every reason to welcome Sweden's decision to close  the
plant. The placing of the station so close to Copenhagen was a
hopelessly bad idea,'' he said. 
  Interior Minister Birte Weiss also welcomed the Swedish  
decision. 
  ``I am delighted even if only one of the two reactors at  
Barseback is to be closed down initially. This is an important 
signal from Sweden,'' she told Danish Radio News. 
  Three Swedish political parties agreed to close both nuclear  
reactors at the Barseback power station in 1998, Swedish radio 
said on Monday. 
  The ruling Social Democrats, the Centre Party and the Left  
Party agreed to close one reactor before the general election in 1998
and the other one after. 
  Negotiations will begin with Barseback's owner, Swedish  
power company Sydkraft AB <SYDc.ST>, about replacing the power 
source with either natural gas or oil, the radio said. 
  Denmark, with no nuclear power of its own, has repeatedly  
expressed concern about the safety of Barseback, frequently 
urging the Swedish government to shut it down. 
  Barseback, built in the 1960s, lies within sight of  
Copenhagen, just 20 km (12 miles) over the Oeresund Strait at 
the mouth of the Baltic. 

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Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3149
  
E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
        sperle@icnpharm.com

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