Tenders sought for French Polynesia nuclear testing memorial

3:58 pm on 28 August 2019

Tenders are being sought for displays at French Polynesia's planned memorial centre for France's nuclear weapons tests.

Picture taken in 1971, showing a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll.

Picture taken in 1971, showing a nuclear explosion in Mururoa atoll. Photo: AFP

A former military site on the waterfront in Papeete was made available by France on condition that the centre will be realised within five years.

France carried out 193 tests in Moruroa and Fangataufa between 1966 and 1996.

Radio1 reports that France has told French Polynesia that classified documents won't be released to the centre for which an official name has yet to be found.

The plan to build a centre documenting the tests dates back to the presidency of Francois Hollande as part of France's acknowledgement of the nuclear legacy.

One group, Association 193, has pulled out of the planning group in protest at last year's changes to the compensation law, suggesting the centre will serve as propaganda for purportedly clean tests.

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