Business groups have welcomed the publication of plans to increase the use of nuclear power in the UK.
The power stations will plug the gap left when plans for many of the UK’s coal-fired stations to shut down in the next 20 years go into effect, reducing the nation’s capacity to generate power by a third.
David Frost, director of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the plans, published in a white paper on Thursday, will enable the UK to remain economically competitive.
“Nuclear power, as part of a balanced and mixed supply of energy, is essential for this country if we are to have security when traditional sources are threatened or in short supply,” he said.
“We must be able to ensure a consistent and affordable supply of power reaches our businesses so they can carry on creating wealth for the British economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and manufacturers’ lobby group EEF both applauded the government’s resolve after a decade of indecision on the issue.
“We are pleased that the debate has moved on from whether we need nuclear or not and the talking has now got to stop,” said Martin Temple, chairman of EEF.
“We now need to get on with it and this means the government needs to move swiftly. It is clear that nuclear power delivers significant advantages and will be an essential part of the low carbon energy environment in the future.”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added that though the move will create thousands of new jobs, ministers will need to work hard to create the necessary skills and training opportunities.
“As the UK moves to the low carbon economy envisaged in the Bill, the workforce will need to be equipped to meet these challenges,” he said.
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008
