Brown sets 'no limit' on number of nuclear reactors to be built

Gordon Brown is to fast-track the building of at least eight nuclear power stations to cut Britain's dependence on oil following the dramatic rise in its price.

The Prime Minister will set "no upper limit" on the number of nuclear plants that will be built by private companies. That would mean nuclear, which provides about 20 per cent of Britain's electricity, could meet a bigger share after the new generation of nuclear stations come on stream over the next 15 years.

Mr Brown fears the UK could experience an energy supply crisis if it does not step up its nuclear programme. He believes that fast-rising oil prices have tipped the balance even more in favour of nuclear and renewable energy, such as wind and wave power, since the Government published a White Paper in January, which backed nuclear.

The Prime Minister's growing enthusiasm for nuclear has provoked controversy. Environmental groups believe that it is not safe and would land taxpayers with a huge clean-up bill after the new plants are decommissioned, pointing to the £73bn cost of phasing out the existing 10 reactors. All except one of them – Sizewell B – will shut down over the next 15 years.
By Andrew Grice

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