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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Funding assistance for a new nuclear
power plant in Cumbria has been guaranteed by the government.