UK government proposes new nuclear construction

London (Platts)--12Jul2006

The UK government proposed new nuclear construction in a package of carbon-
reducing measures to meet the country's energy needs over the next 30 to 40
years. In announcing the results July 11 of a six-month long government energy
review, UK Trade Secretary Alistair Darling told Parliament that "it will be
for the private sector to initiate, fund, construct and operate" new reactors.
The private sector must also cover costs of decommissioning and long-term
waste management, he said. Darling said initiating nuclear construction would
be a decision for investors in new generating plants to make. Further public
consultations on various issues are planned before a White Paper is published
"around the turn of the year," he said. One consultation will be on the
proposed planning framework for handling nuclear issues, he said. Vincent de
Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy, told a British Broadcasting Corporation
program that EDF is not yet ready to take the plunge into new UK nuclear
construction. EDF has "confidence," however, that after the proposed
consultation process is completed, there will be a "clear framework" to enable
EDF to make a decision, he said.

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