£1bn power station a step closer for N-plant
News & Star
By Andrea Thompson
SELLAFIELD has moved a step closer to getting a £1billion power station after Tony Blair gave his most public support yet for the nuclear industry.
The Prime Minister told the Labour Party Conference in Brighton that the Government would assess all options for future power generation – including civil nuclear power. He said: “For how much longer can countries like ours allow the security of our energy supply to be dependent on some of the most unstable parts of the world?
“For both reasons the G8 agreement must be made to work so we develop together the technology that allows prosperous nations to adapt and emerging ones to grow, and that means an assessment of all options, including civil nuclear power.”
Most existing nuclear power stations are to shut by 2020, leaving Britain largely dependent on gas and coal-fired power and renewable energy like wind. Industry experts say each new nuclear power station could cost between £1bn to £2bn.
Sellafield’s nuclear power station, Calder Hall, shut down two years ago and was the oldest station in the Magnox fleet when it ceased generating in March 2003. It was commissioned in 1956.
Trade unions at Sellafield have welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge.
Amicus convener, John Tear, said “What Tony Blair said fits in with all that we have been saying as a trades union – that we need a balanced energy policy and that we can’t rely on gas from unstable parts of the world.”
Peter Kane, of the GMB union, said a new nuclear power station would have massive benefits for Sellafield, which is expected to shed up to 8,000 jobs over the next 10 years through decommissioning. But he warned that it was too early for people to start getting excited.
“We have campaigned for a replacement for Calder Hall and while we welcome Tony Blair’s speech there is still a lot of work to do.”
Copeland MP Jamie Reed said the case for civil nuclear power for Britain in the modern world is irrefutable.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure that the logic of the case is understood and the merits of the industry embraced. There is obviously significant potential for the enhanced development of Copeland and West Cumbria.”
But Martin Forwood of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, says the proposal to bring back nuclear power is not well founded.
“There are a huge number of tests that the nuclear industry would have to go through first before we get any signs of rebuild. That includes public acceptability, the cost of building power stations and the length of time it would take to build them.”
By Andrea Thompson
SELLAFIELD has moved a step closer to getting a £1billion power station after Tony Blair gave his most public support yet for the nuclear industry.
The Prime Minister told the Labour Party Conference in Brighton that the Government would assess all options for future power generation – including civil nuclear power. He said: “For how much longer can countries like ours allow the security of our energy supply to be dependent on some of the most unstable parts of the world?
“For both reasons the G8 agreement must be made to work so we develop together the technology that allows prosperous nations to adapt and emerging ones to grow, and that means an assessment of all options, including civil nuclear power.”
Most existing nuclear power stations are to shut by 2020, leaving Britain largely dependent on gas and coal-fired power and renewable energy like wind. Industry experts say each new nuclear power station could cost between £1bn to £2bn.
Sellafield’s nuclear power station, Calder Hall, shut down two years ago and was the oldest station in the Magnox fleet when it ceased generating in March 2003. It was commissioned in 1956.
Trade unions at Sellafield have welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge.
Amicus convener, John Tear, said “What Tony Blair said fits in with all that we have been saying as a trades union – that we need a balanced energy policy and that we can’t rely on gas from unstable parts of the world.”
Peter Kane, of the GMB union, said a new nuclear power station would have massive benefits for Sellafield, which is expected to shed up to 8,000 jobs over the next 10 years through decommissioning. But he warned that it was too early for people to start getting excited.
“We have campaigned for a replacement for Calder Hall and while we welcome Tony Blair’s speech there is still a lot of work to do.”
Copeland MP Jamie Reed said the case for civil nuclear power for Britain in the modern world is irrefutable.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure that the logic of the case is understood and the merits of the industry embraced. There is obviously significant potential for the enhanced development of Copeland and West Cumbria.”
But Martin Forwood of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, says the proposal to bring back nuclear power is not well founded.
“There are a huge number of tests that the nuclear industry would have to go through first before we get any signs of rebuild. That includes public acceptability, the cost of building power stations and the length of time it would take to build them.”
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