Oct 28, 2009 -- M2 PRESSWIRE


A third potential new nuclear operator entered the UK market today, taking total proposals for new nuclear power stations up to 16 gigawatts of electricity.

A consortium of GDF SUEZ SA, Iberdrola SA and Scottish and Southern Energy Plc has secured an option to purchase land for the development of a new nuclear power station at Sellafield. Following the sale run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the consortium set out plans to build up to 3.6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in the UK, with work beginning in 2015.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:

'These latest plans, together with the ambition of existing plans from two other operators, mean that new nuclear could power the equivalent of all 26 million homes in the UK.

'This sale is further proof that we're giving industry the confidence to invest and that the UK is creating a successful low carbon economy.'

The new site, purchased for GBP70 million, follows previous sales of NDA land at Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell, as Britain continues its path towards a nuclear renaissance. Any new nuclear power station development will be subject to the regulatory and other consenting processes.

The land has been nominated into the Government's Strategic Siting Assessment process which assesses sites for their suitability for new nuclear power stations. The Government will be consulting on its assessment of the sites that are potentially suitable for new nuclear power stations as part of its consultation on the draft National Policy Statement for Nuclear Power Generation which will be published this autumn.

The consortium has pledge to complete the preparation of a plan for maximising the contribution of UK-based suppliers and UK-based employees to the new development at Sellafield.

Notes:

1. The area of land comprising 190 ha (470 acres) lies to the north of the existing site at Sellafield in Cumbria.

2. A consortium of GDF SUEZ SA ('GDF SUEZ'), Iberdrola SA ('Iberdrola') and Scottish and Southern Energy Plc ('SSE') was formed earlier this year to participate in the UK's nuclear new build programme.

3. The NDA will use the proceeds to further its core mission of delivering safe, sustainable and publicly acceptable solutions to the challenge of nuclear clean-up and waste management.

4. The plans announced today will build up to 3.6 gigawatts of new capacity. Added to EDF Energy's firm plans to build 6.4 gigawatts, and RWE/E.ON's plans for a further 6 gigawatts this takes the total declared plans for the first phase of new build to 16 gigawatts.

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