nuclear-news

UK public kept in the dark on negotiations for nuclear power subsidy

SSE attacks secrecy of nuclear subsidy talks, Government negotiations with French energy giant EDF over subsidies for new nuclear power are being conducted in “a smoke-filled room”, the chief executive of rival company SSE claimed yesterday. Telegraph UK, By Emily Gosden  12 Jun 20122   Ian Marchant attacked the lack of transparency in the talks as he warned MPs on the energy select committee that ministers’ plans to reform the energy sector were so complex and risky as to leave consumers “paying a higher price”.

Under the proposals, companies building nuclear and renewable power generation would be guaranteed a return on their investment through contracts setting the price they will be paid for electricity…… in evidence to the committee, Mr Marchant said the Energy Secretary would
be agreeing long-term contracts “without any level of public scrutiny of what is being paid for, how much is being paid or why it is being paid at a particular level”.

“Consumers will be liable to pay for contracts, potentially for up to 40 years, which they have no visibility of, and no input into,” he warned….. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9327801/SSE-attacks-secrecy-of-nuclear-subsidy-talks.html

June 13, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK