DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
AND CLIMATE CHANGE News Release (2009/009) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 27 January 2009
One year on from
White Paper: New nuclear is on track
The nuclear industry has two months from today to nominate sites
for the first wave of new nuclear power stations in the UK, the
Government announced today. The call for nominations came
alongside publication of the criteria against which potential
sites will be assessed.
The criteria include conditions that new sites should not be near
major population centres or certain types of military activity.
The industry has indicated that the most suitable sites for new
build are in the vicinity of existing nuclear power stations.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband told the Nuclear
Development Forum today:
"We've taken some big steps towards next generation
nuclear in the year since the publication of our White Paper, the
industry continues to gear up to invest and we are on course to
see new nuclear feeding into the grid by 2018. EdF has firm plans
for new reactors on British Energy land, and other companies have
started to form joint ventures.
"We'll be judging each site that gets nominated against
the criteria we have set out today and there will be plenty of
opportunities for local authorities and the public to have their
say on the options tabled.
"Nuclear power can improve energy security and help the
drive towards low carbon energy supplies. Alongside renewables and
cleaner fossil fuels, it will help us meet our climate change
goals as well as ensuring the future supply of energy for the UK."
The criteria are published as part of the response to last
year's Strategic Siting Assessment (SSA) consultation at a
meeting of the Nuclear Development Forum (NDF) one year on from
the publication of the Nuclear Energy White Paper. The NDF brings
together senior representatives from the nuclear industry
including vendors, operators, key suppliers, contractors and
unions involved in the industry, and Government. It meets three
times a year and aims to support and advise the Government's
OND (Office for Nuclear Development) in its role to develop and
maintain the UK as one of the best markets in the world for
companies to invest in nuclear power.
Site nominations must be received by 31 March 2009. The list of
nominated sites will be published shortly after and there will be
an initial month-long opportunity for the public to express their
views on how the sites match up to the criteria. The Government
will then assess each site to decide if it meets a number of
criteria. Sites assessed to be 'strategically suitable'
will be listed on the draft Nuclear National Policy Statement
(NPS), which will be open for consultation during which
communities and Parliament can have their say on the draft list of
sites. From 2010, developers may apply to the Infrastructure
Planning Commission (IPC) for planning permission for those sites
which are found to be strategically suitable in the Nuclear NPS.
Before a developer applies for permission it has to consult
affected Local Authorities and local communities. Communities can
also submit written evidence to the IPC on the application and may
also be able to speak at particular hearings on a proposal.
Notes to editors:
1. The full SSA consultation response can be found at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/sources/nuclear/consultations/closed-response/page47749.html
2. The leaflet "New nuclear power stations: how sites will
be chosen and how you can have your say" can be found at: http://www.nuclearpowersiting.decc.gov.uk
3. Other documents published today at the NDF:
* A summary of achievements since the Nuclear White Paper - These
include the launch of the Office for Nuclear Development and the
Nuclear Development Forum, the nuclear elements of the Energy and
Planning Acts, the Strategic Siting Assessment consultation and
the consultation on the NIA's Justification application,
completion by the regulators of the initial assessment of the
Generic Design Assessment and made progress in implementing the
recommendations on nuclear regulation as set out in Tim
Stone's review.
* Nuclear Regulatory Review: Summary Recommendations and
Government Response
Summary Recommendations arising out of the
review of the Nuclear Regulatory Regime, containing Dr Tim
Stone's short and medium-term recommendations for ensuring
that the NII can deal with the challenges of new nuclear power
stations as well as its existing responsibilities.
* Skills Map -There are a number of programmes being taken
forward in the UK to help meet the future demand for skilled
workers to meet the needs of new nuclear build, decommissioning,
and existing operations. These programmes are being undertaken by
a wide range of organisations so we have undertaken a project to
'map' the UK nuclear skills landscape to enable the
Office for Nuclear Development (OND) to understand better what
organisations are active in the nuclear skills agenda, and how
they interact together.
* Integrated programme plan - an indicative timeline setting out
the key deliverables required to deliver the nuclear new build
programme. This sets out at a strategic level how the key parts of
the new nuclear programme fit together, including activity being
led by DECC, the regulators, National Grid and others.
* Consultations Map - in response to feedback from several of our
key stakeholders, this document is designed to make it easier for
the public to understand how they can "have their say"
in the new nuclear programme. It explains in simple terms what
the key forthcoming consultations and other public facing
exercises relevant to new nuclear will be, when they will happen,
and how they feed into the wider programme.
Department of Energy and Climate Change
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