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21 October 2010
UK nuclear commitment firms up
A revised draft UK energy policy statement continued to pave the way for new nuclear power plants in the UK. The energy minister, who has consistently stated his support for new build but without taxpayer subsidy, showed firmer resolve in his recent announcement to parliament. He mentioned regulatory "justification" of the reactor designs currently undergoing evaluation (the AP1000 and EPR) according to EU law, due to their potential for increasing energy security and decreasing CO2 emissions outweighing any possible radiological detriment. At least one quarter of current UK generation capacity needs to be replaced by 2020.
Regarding subsidy: "To be clear, this means that there will be no levy, direct payment or market support for electricity supplied or capacity provided by a private sector new nuclear operator, unless similar support is also made available more widely to other types of generation." Other remarks set out government willingness to take financial risks which would help to achieve policy goals, and made it clear that the concept of no subsidy was not entirely meaningful in the light of such goals and international treaty obligations.
The government will consult later in the year as to whether the UK will support amendments to an international nuclear liability treaty. Currently, UK nuclear operator liability is capped at £140 million. Operators will also receive greater clarity on what their waste and decommissioning liabilities will be.
The statement confirmed eight existing nuclear sites have been made available for future construction: Bradwell, Hartlepool, Heysham, Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Sellafield, Sizewell and Wylfa. Two greenfield sites near Sellafield were dropped.
WNN 18/10/10 UK
UK waste funding remains intact
Despite average departmental budget cuts of 19%, the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has escaped relatively unscathed from government austerity measures with sufficient funding to preserve current NDA spend levels of around £3 billion per year. This will allow it to continue to pay for legacy decommissioning activities for which it is reponsible. NDA Spending on high hazard sites, such as the nuclear reprocessing and waste facility at Sellafield, has been protected.
The NDA’s existing nuclear liabilities include waste from some 20 civilian and military nuclear facilities. A 2008-2009 estimate of undiscounted NDA liabilities amounted to £76.5 billion, £39 billion of which was attributed to Sellafield.
WNN 11/10/10.
Other papers updated on the WNA Public Information Service (see WNA web site):?
Uranium enrichment,
