The UK government plans what it said was "the biggest expansion of nuclear power in the country for 70 years to boost its energy independence and meet carbon emissions targets. The civil nuclear roadmap includes a study into building a major new power station, a €300 million investment to produce advanced uranium fuel and "smarter regulation". Taken together, the measures would quadruple the country's nuclear power to 24 gigawatts by 2050 - enough to provide a quarter of the UK's electricity needs.
"Nuclear power is the perfect antidote to the energy challenges facing the UK - it's cleaner, cheaper in the long term and will guarantee the UK's energy security," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. "This is the right long-term solution and is the next step in our commitment to nuclear power, putting us on track to achieve net zero by 2050 in a measured and sustainable way," he added. The government says it is committed to the 2050 net-zero target, but has come under criticism after announcing last summer it would issue "hundreds" of new North Sea oil and gas licences. It is also grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, partly caused by a spike in oil and gas prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Energy Secretary Clare Coutinho said the UK would "never again be held to ransom for energy by tyrants like Vladimir Putin". The government said the proposals represented "the biggest expansion of nuclear power for 70 years", adding that they would "cut electricity bills, support thousands of jobs and improve the UK's energy security". / BGNES
