UK in talks with Westinghouse over Wylfa nuclear plant

• 2 years ago (2021-09-27)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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The British Government is in talks with Westinghouse on building the new Wylfa nuclear power plant on Anglesey in Wales. If it gets the go-ahead, the new plant could be operational in the mid 2030s.

A spokesman for the UK Government said that nuclear had a key role to play in reducing Britain’s reliance on fossil fuels and exposure to volatile gas prices. They said: “We are seeking to approve at least one more large-scale nuclear project this Parliament in order to strengthen our energy security and create thousands of jobs across the country. We recognise how important it is that we can manufacture fuel in Wales and the wider UK and maintain a skilled workforce in the sector.”

Japan’s Hitachi scrapped plans to build a nuclear power plant at the Wylfa site a year ago after it failed to find private investors or secure sufficient government support for the project.

A government source said that the recent spike in gas prices combined with a fall in renewable generation due to low wind speeds had underlined the need for more nuclear capacity. They said: “If our current situation shows anything, it is that we need more stable home-grown, low-carbon generation in the UK.”