1. CBI director calls for more nuclear
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, has urged the Government to consider alternative funding models for new nuclear. She joins EDF in lobbying for a ‘regulated asset base’ model, arguing that without it the UK will not be able to meet the Government’s new climate change targets. In a letter to Greg Clark, the business secretary, she also recommends that the Government to use this summer’s white paper to give ‘clarity on its vision’ to reach net zero.
(The Times, New nuclear power stations ‘needed to hit zero emissions’, 28 June 2019, Link)
2. EDF seeks Government guarantee for Sizewell C
EDF is asking the Government to guarantee help if Sizewell C runs over budget. EDF is looking for a similar deal to the Thames Tideway Tunnel which receives additional funding if the project’s costs overrun by over 30 per cent. The impact this will have on consumer bills is still uncertain. The Sunday Times claims a government guarantee could cost consumers an extra six pounds a year. EDF, however, claims that it would reduce the cost of financing and therefore cut bills.
(City AM, EDF seeks guarantee for nuclear project, 23 June 2019, Link)
(The Times, Sizewell budget meltdown could hit taxpayers under EDF proposals, 23 June 2019, Link)
3. Details of Dounreay contamination scare released
On 7 June 2019, workers were evacuated from Dounreay nuclear power station after radioactive contamination was detected. Details of the incident were released at a meeting of the Dounreay Stakeholder Group on Wednesday. Martin Moore, the site managing director, reassured everyone that it was an insignificant, low level of contamination that caused no serious harm.
(The Times, Nuclear power station evacuated in radioactive contamination scare, 25 June 2019, Link)
4. Office for Nuclear Regulation releases annual report on exercise of powers under Part 3 of the Energy Act
Part three of the Act (Nuclear Regulation) has five chapters covering nuclear regulations, the organisation and structure of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the purposes and functions of the ONR and other supplementary matters. The report covers the use of these powers by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
(Office for Nuclear Regulation, Energy Act 2013 (Part 3): annual report, 2018 to 2019, 26 June 2019, Link)
5. Nuclear leaders release EU decarbonisation strategy
At the ‘Nuclear in a Changing World’ conference in Bucharest, Romania, representatives from the nuclear industry issued a manifesto outlining the steps Europe needs to take if it is to decarbonise by 2050. In the manifesto, they called for collaboration between EU policy makers and the nuclear industry. They stated that ‘meeting the EU’s ambition to decarbonise its economy will require significant investment in all low-carbon technologies…This means investing in Europe in both the long-term operation of the existing fleet and the construction of substantial new nuclear capacity (around 100GW of nuclear new build). Both are achievable if EU institutions, Member States and the European nuclear industry work together in partnership.’
(World Nuclear News, Nuclear industry calls for teamwork in meeting EU climate targets, Date, Link)
(Paper Name, 26 June 2019, Link)
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