UK

Ed Miliband Considers Scrapping Planned Nuclear Plant

by Richard Eldred

 

8 September 2024 

The U.K.’s nuclear future is in limbo as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband considers scrapping a major plant in Wales. The Telegraph has more.

The Energy Secretary has told officials to review future nuclear plans in a move that has thrown into doubt plans for a third new gigawatt-scale plant to be built at Wylfa, in Anglesey.

The review will also reconsider the official target, announced under Boris Johnson, to deploy at least 24 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050, the Telegraph understands.

It comes amid concerns that the plans set out under the Conservatives were rushed out ahead of the General Election and not properly thought through. …

The move will fuel concerns that Britain’s ambitions are being scaled back, with the Conservatives accusing him of turning his back on the industry.

Wylfa was only confirmed in May by the previous Conservative Government to follow similar projects at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, and Sizewell, in Suffolk.

The Welsh site is capable of hosting up to four large reactors and has attracted keen interest from major international firms including U.S.-based Westinghouse and South Korea’s Kepco.

It is understood that ministers remain committed to making a final investment decision on the £20 billion Sizewell C power plant before the end of this year, as well as to the programme to develop the first mini nuclear power stations known as small modular reactors (SMRs).

But sources said that the Government’s future commitments were being reviewed in the round as part of wider plans to transition to a Net Zero energy system.

Worth reading in full.