MPs: Nuclear ‘wish list’ needs a clear strategy

NICHOLAS EARL

GOVERNMENT plans to revive the country’s nuclear ambitions are more of a ‘wish list’ than a strategy, a leading Westminster panel warned in its new report on the flagging industry.

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee argued government hopes of building a new reactor per year lacked the comprehensive detail and strategy needed to meet such lofty ambitions – particularly those around funding and skills.

It is now calling for a comprehensive nuclear strategic plan to be drawn up, consulted on and ratified before the end of the current parliament.

There will also need to be an increase of the current nuclear workforce from 65,000 to as many as 215,000 people. This will require coordinated actions across the whole sector including government, existing nuclear operators, developers and regulators.

Meanwhile, the report also said the government should continue to back nuclear fusion even though it is unlikely to contribute to net zero ambitions.

Greg Clark, chair of the committee, said the government is right to target a ramp-up in nuclear generation but labelled its ambitions as “stretching”.

Downing Street’s target of ramping up nuclear generation from 7GW to 24GW over the next three decades is nearly double the highest installed capacity UK nuclear has ever reached. It is particularly challenging with 85 per cent of the country’s current nuclear generation set to go offline in the next 12 years.

When approached for comment, a department for energy security and net zero spokesperson confirmed the government plans to publish a nuclear roadmap and consult on alternative routes to market by the end of the year.

Haleon, which spun off from GSK last year, is the world’s largest standalone consumer health business