nuclear-news

TODAY. New heights of folly as UK government releases its Civil Nuclear Roadmap.

When Rishi Sunak rose to the political throne in Britain, I thought: ”Well, of the stupid Tories, at least he’s probably less stupid than the rest of them”.

Well, now I wonder. With an election due by early 2025, surely Sunak and co. are not planning upon political suicide?

So I can only conclude that Sunak is as thick as a brick.

He’s launched the  Civil Nuclear Roadmap for UK to increase nuclear generation by up to four times to 24GW by 2050. The Prime Minister said: “Nuclear is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing Britain – it’s green, cheaper in the long term and will ensure the UK’s energy security for the long-term.” “This is the right long-term decision and is the next step in our commitment to nuclear power”

The UK intends to build up to eight new reactors, and will invest up to £300 million into producing the HALEU fuel required for new high-tech reactors, and which currently is only commercially produced in Russia.

And there’ll be a fleet of “small modular reactors” to be .built across Britain.

Sounds great, don’t it?

BUT:

Large nuclear reactors.  The cost of Hinkley Point C has spiralled to £33bn, a 30 per cent increase from 2015 when it forecast the cost at £25-£26bn.    Sizewell C has not yet received a final investment decision.

Six reactors on three sites have been shut down since 2021 and will be need  expensive dismantlement 

Most of the UK’s 9 functioning nuclear reactors are nearing the end of their operating lives, although 2 of them Heysham 1 and Hartlepool are to be extended.

Small Nuclear Reactors. Regulation and planning  rules will be loosened . A   developer-led approach will replace previous rules.     Rather than ministers specifying sites, developers will be asked to identify locations for small nuclear reactors . 

Nuclear plants will be ruled out in line with “population density” and “proximity to military activities” . But apart from those considerations, “All other criteria willbe discretionary, including size, flood risk, proximity to civil airports,  the natural beauty, ecological importance or cultural heritage of the site. ” 

Divorced from reality?  Does Rishi Sunak not know what happened to the USA’s one and only small nuclear reactor project –   the rapid decline and fall of the NuScale enterprise?

The mainstream media faithfully touts Rishi Sunak’s nuclear plans.  But investors and the general public are not that gullible. 

I think it more likely that the Nuclear Roadmap will prove the antidote to a Tory government for 2025

January 13, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes