PIE IN THE SKY ENERGY POLICY” RISKS SCOTLAND MISSING OUT ON NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS AS TOSHIBA WESTINGHOUSE ACQUIRES 60% STAKE IN WEST CUMBRIA SITE GMB WARNS

Phil Black - PII Editor 16/01/2014

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Pie in the sky policy could risk Scotland missing out on new Nuclear Power Stations – Toshiba Westinghouse take 60% stake

New nuclear stations are likely at Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Wylfa, Heysham, West Cumbria, Hartlepool, Sizewell and Bradwell, as unlike Scotland, they are getting on with the planning and investment issues says GMB

GMB Scotland, the union for energy workers in Scotland, is warning that Scotland runs the risk of missing out on a new generation of nuclear power stations as there are no plans to replace Hunterston B and Torness. Both are now due to be decommissioned in 2023.

This warning comes in the wake the announcement yesterday (14th Jan) that that Toshiba Westinghouse has acquired a majority (60%) stake in the NuGen New Nuclear Build Project at Moorside in West Cumbria. See notes to editors for GMB press release on Toshiba Westinghouse acquisition.

This comes as the EU begins a formal investigation into the deal between EDF and the UK Government to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. EDF run the two nuclear power stations in Scotland.

Also in January this year the Office for Nuclear Regulation announced it is taking its safety assessment of Hitachi’s nuclear reactor design for its Horizon nuclear power project in Wylfa in Anglesey to the second stage.

Jim Moohan, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser, said “This progress towards new stations in Anglesey and West Cumbria, following on from the go ahead for Hinkley Point C, should serve as wake-up call.

There is a serious risk of Scotland missing out on the next generation of new nuclear power stations due to Salmond”s pie in the sky energy policy.

It now looks likely that the next generation of power stations will be built at Hinkley Point, Oldbury, Wylfa in Anglesey, Heysham, West Cumbria, Hartlepool, Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex as they are getting on with the planning and investment issues.

By contrast the First Minister is hanging on to the coattails of the UK Government on the nuclear question without giving clear indication to the Scottish people what safeguards he has in place for the long term.

The renewables factor will not sustain our energy requirements. It is time the pressure groups and politicians who continually put down the nuclear sector come clean as to how they would address our energy needs in the long term.

The stark reality is that Hunterston, commissioned in 1976, and Torness, commissioned in 1988, will have to be decommissioned in 2023 after four decades of successful operation.

The First Minister and the opponents totally ignored this history of success. The skill loss at these stations will be devastating to the Scottish economy unless we get on with making a replacement decisions.

The First Minister has to come clean on his strategy. This must be supported by substance and facts, with supporting evidence of how the Scottish Government intends to protect our energy supply and with what means they intend to carry this out.

GMB is clear that a nuclear build programme is vital to the Scottish economy. It has a proven track record of clean and carbon free vital for the balanced energy policy Scotland needs.

There is a fantastic opportunity for job growth within the area which will create a new wealth of apprenticeships for the future with technical experience and the creation of thousands of jobs within the construction sector alongside a multi-billion pound boost for the economy.

The other energy giants within the Scottish economy continue to look at ways of reducing the carbon emission to adhere to EU legislation. There is a clear message coming through that nuclear with its track record is vital for the continuation of a viable economy within Scotland and as part of the UK sector.

Safety within the nuclear sector within the UK has been dramatically improved from the outset of the establishment of that industry and continues to thrive on as zero tolerance on risks on health and safety.”