UK Government backs new N-power stations

West Australian
11/01/2008 Page: 24

Britain gave the green light to a new generation of nuclear energy stations yesterday, ending years of uncertainty over its energy plans and adding momentum to atomic energy's worldwide renaissance. "The Government believes that new nuclear energy stations should have a role to play in this country's future energy mix alongside other low-carbon sources," Business Secretary John Hutton told Parliament.

He also published an Energy Bill signalling greater deployment of renewable energy and increased investment in Carbon Capture and Storage as well as offshore gas infrastructure. "It would be in the public interest to allow energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear energy stations and that the Government should take active steps to open up the way to the construction of nuclear energy stations," he said.

"It will be for energy companies to fund, develop and build nuclear energy stations in the UK, including meeting the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management costs," Mr Hutton said. The long-awaited but expected announcement was criticised by environmental campaigners, who are threatening legal action.

Nuclear energy stations produce about 20 per cent of the country's electricity but all but one are due to close by 2023. Nuclear energy has long been a controversial issue, unpopular with many in the governing Labour Party. In 2006, then-prime minister Tony Blair signalled his support for nuclear energy, saying it was crucial to guaranteeing Britain's energy supplies. The Government has promised to cut emissions of greenhouse gases by 60 per cent of 1990 levels by 2050. It sees nuclear energy as part of a mix of clean and renewable energy sources that includes wave and wind energy.