nuclear-news

UK ‘s Minister for Nuclear and Networks very upbeat about nuclear energy’s future

In February, Andrew Bowie  
became the UK’s first-ever
Minister for Nuclear and Networks

2 Andrew Bowie  
became the country’s first-ever U.K.,”
Minister for Nuclear and Networks nuclear minister in February,

TOKYO — The U.K. government is “absolutely committed” to boosting nuclear power as a key energy source, but national security is paramount as Chinese investment in new plants raises concerns, the minister in charge of the sector told Nikkei Asia.

Most of the U.K.’s existing nuclear plants are to be retired by the end of this decade, while a new generation of reactors is still under construction………

“The British government is absolutely committed to new nuclear, after about three decades of underinvestment. We are reinvesting and reinvigorating an industry which has not had the attention that it should in the U.K.,” Minister for Nuclear and Networks Andrew Bowie said in a recent interview. “On the whole, we are open to investors from overseas,” he added……………….

The UK government has announced plans to build as many as eight new reactors. However, major projects already underway are mired in controversy over funding from Chinese investors, given tense relations between London and Beijing……………

Now uncertainty looms for Hinkley Point C, which broke ground in 2016 under a joint investment by EDF and CGN as the first new nuclear power station built in the U.K. in nearly 30 years. The plant is home to the only two reactors now under construction, according to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency……….

“The pendulum has swung” on British nuclear policy, the minister said, but the pronuclear plans could fall victim to politics, with a general election due within 15 months………… https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Energy/U.K.-committed-to-nuclear-power-despite-China-funding-concerns2

August 22, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK