Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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UK joins global nuclear energy partnership
The UK will take part in the global development of secure nuclear energy; Business Secretary John Hutton announced today, as the UK accepts an invitation to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).
Mr Hutton, who will sign the agreement during a two day visit to Washington DC, will also meet with US energy companies to discuss potential investment in new nuclear build in the UK.
The signing of GNEP and the meeting with US energy companies follows John Hutton's recent announcement to invite proposals for new nuclear as part of the UK energy mix.
The UK is the twenty-first country to join the international partnership, which promotes responsible nuclear development while reducing volumes of waste and the risk of nuclear proliferation.
GNEP also enables the UK and other developed countries to share experience on a wide range of issues, such as infrastructure assessments, security and safety requirements, which will help developing countries identify whether nuclear power generation is suitable for them and how to proceed with its implementation.
Signing the partnership's Statement of Principles in Washington DC, John Hutton said:
"The UK shares in the vision of improved non-proliferation and nuclear waste management and recognises the real benefits of initiatives such as GNEP to implement the right solutions and further develop international standards and best practice.
"With the UK's advanced knowledge and capabilities, particularly in nuclear waste management, GNEP opens up the potential for UK organisations to share their expertise globally through tapping into international projects and building business partnerships.
"With a new generation of nuclear energy now set to be part of the UK's future energy mix, the UK is in position to play a role in this global initiative."
As members, the UK will be able to further contribute to the development of international policy on the use of nuclear power, non-proliferation and the disposal of nuclear waste to ensure the safe and secure development of nuclear energy worldwide.
Notes to Editors
1. John Hutton will meet The US Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Samuel Bodman and sign the GNEP Statement of Principles in Washington DC on Tuesday, 26 February 2008.
2. For details on the signing, contact Angela Hill at the US Department of Energy on 001 202 586 3261 or email Angela.Hill@hq.doe.gov.
3. For more information on John Hutton's visit to Washington DC contact the BERR press office.
4. GNEP is a US initiative and promotes international collaboration to develop new spent fuel processing technology and advanced breeder reactors. Fuel production, reprocessing and ultimately waste storage services will then be provided to countries that have reactors but do not have those associated fuel cycle activities. This will enable countries to use nuclear energy for electricity generation without the need for them to possess sensitive technologies that could be used for weapons production.
5. For further information on GNEP: http://www.gnep.energy.gov/
6. Other GNEP members include: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Ghana, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United State.
7. The UK remains committed to the strict observance of relevant commitments and international obligations, including International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and the requirements of United Nations Security Council resolution 1540.
8. The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform helps UK business succeed in an increasingly competitive world. It promotes business growth and a strong enterprise economy, leads the better regulation agenda and champions free and fair markets. It is the shareholder in a number of Government-owned assets and it works to secure, clean and competitively priced energy supplies.
