Fukushima crisis may slow British nuclear progress

• 13 years ago (2011-03-20)
• Junior Isles

Asia 848 Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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The crisis at the Fukushima plant in Japan could delay plans for a new generation of British nuclear power stations, dealing a blow to the atomic sector's hopes for a £30-billion boost.

Britain currently has 10 plants and 19 nuclear reactors up and running which provide around a fifth of the country's electricity production.

The Labour government in 2008 adopted a policy of maintaining nuclear power as part of the country's energy mix, which was retained by the administration of Prime Minister David Cameron.

In line with this, several European firms want to build five new plants with at least 10 reactors, which would be worth the equivalent of about €34 billion  to the nuclear industry.

The companies have been involved in a long process to get their bids approved, and appears it had been going well. Now, however, Japan's atomic crisis is threatening to delay the lucrative deals.

Since the emergency began at the Fukushima plant, the British government has been at pains to stress that nuclear power is vital to meet the country's energy needs.

"I do think that nuclear power should be part of the mix in the future as it is part of the mix right now," Cameron told parliament on Wednesday.

Ministers have batted away demands from environmental campaigners to do a U-turn on the policy in light of the Japan nuclear crisis, triggered by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that has left thousands dead.

The nuclear crisis continued on Sunday, but crews fighting to cool reactors at the stricken Fukushima plant were hoping to switch partial power back on.

Energy Minister Chris Huhne echoed Cameron's view and even appeared to take a swipe at Germany when he referred disparagingly to "some continental politicians" that "seem to be rushing to judgements."

In the wake of Japan's nuclear crisis, Germany ordered the temporary shut-down of its seven oldest nuclear reactors while authorities conduct safety probes.

Despite the British government's  faith in nuclear power, it has responded to public anxiety and asked the chief nuclear inspector, Mike Weightman, to produce a report on the implications of the situation in Japan.

An interim report will be completed by mid-May, with the final review scheduled to be finished by September. And yet the Health and Safety Executive, an official watchdog that oversees workplace health and safety issues, is supposed to approve in principle two models of reactor by June.

These are the EPR reactor made by French nuclear group Areva, and the AP1000 from American firm Westinghouse.

Now the manufacturers, who are putting the finishing touches to their projects, fear that this key stage in the process could be delayed.

French energy group EDF also fears a delay – it chose the EPR reactor long ago and wants to build two new plants with four reactors with the help of British group Centrica.

The first of the reactors is supposed to be up and running in 2018, which puts it on a tight timetable.