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Department of Energy and Climate Change
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Sellafield site in the running for next generation nuclear
* NDA confirm they expect to nominate Sellafield, Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell as potential sites for new nuclear power stations;
* Each station could bring 9,000 jobs during construction, 1000 skilled workers when operational and be worth £2bn to each region;
* Government next week will call for nominations for new nuclear power station sites.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has today confirmed that it expects Sellafield, together with Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell to be nominated as potential sites for new nuclear power stations. This could represent a massive multi-billion pound investment opportunity for these regions, as well as the wider UK economy.
The announcement comes as the Government prepares to launch the next step towards new nuclear, when on Tuesday it calls for potential sites to be nominated, and publishes the criteria it will use to assess the suitability of sites. This follows the recent £12.5bn investment by EdF in British Energy.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"Nuclear is crucial to our low carbon future; it is crucial to our energy security and at the same time it represents a massive opportunity for the UK economy and jobs. Industry are investing billions into the UK economy, jobs are being created and supply chain opportunities are developing.
"The NDA's announcement today on potential new build sites is good news and I am pleased to be here in Sellafield, to welcome this. During construction, each new station would bring as many as 9,000 jobs, create up to 1,000 skilled long-term jobs when operational, and be worth about £2 billion to the surrounding region and wider economy. With such deep-rooted ties to the nuclear industry Sellafield is in a strong position to benefit."
Minister of State for Energy Mike O'Brien said:
"One year on since this Government took the decision that new nuclear power should have a role to play, we are making rapid progress. The call for potential sites is another key milestone. Of course we know Sellafield is a complex site and issues like grid connections need to be considered. But it is well placed to benefit from the UK's nuclear renaissance; it is home to our nuclear skills, home to our nuclear expertise and home to many of our key facilities. Like all sites, the suitability of Sellafield will be assessed against the government's rigorous siting criteria.
"West Cumbria is already on the map as our Energy Coast. With their management of our nuclear legacy, with their interest in the Geological Disposal Facility, their interest in new nuclear and with their pioneering salt cavern gas storage project in Barrow we know they will continue to be in the future."
Notes to editors
1. It is for energy companies to fund, develop and build new nuclear power stations in the UK, not the Government. This includes energy companies meeting the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management costs.
2. Anyone can nominate a site, but nominations either have to be supported by a credible nuclear power operator or nominators have to demonstrate that this is a credible site for deployment by 2025. In both cases nominators must have raised awareness with local communities of their nomination.
3. To be updated on developments of nuclear sites please email nuclearsitingupdate@decc.gsi.gov.uk
