Sellafield nuclear power station plans still on track, says Britain’s Energy Coast chief

The chairman’s of Britain’s Energy Coast has received assurances “at the highest level” that plans for nuclear new build at Sellafield remain on track.

The Rt Hon Brian Wilson, a former Labour energy minister, spoke out after The Sunday Times claimed that one half of the NuGen consortium was pulling out.

The newspaper reported that Spanish company Iberdrola had told its partner GDF Suez it was withdrawing, leaving the £5bn Moorside project in serious doubt.

NuGen issued a denial on Monday and now Mr Wilson has weighed in.

He said: “We are assured at the highest levels that the story is not true and that Iberdrola are still very much part of the NuGen consortium.

“In the current economic climate, it is perhaps inevitable that this kind of speculation should occur.
“However, I am acutely aware that until work is under way, it is open to any participant in nuclear new-build to have second thoughts.

“This might act as a wake-up call for all branches of government that have an input into the nuclear new-build programme. A greater sense of urgency is required.

“Companies that are committed to very large investments are entitled to some reasonable assurances and certainties about the market they will enter when these power stations are eventually built.”

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