| Minister calls for diverse energy and lower emissions - Energy Choices 2005 | | Print | |
| Monday, 24 July 2006 | |
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Speaking at NIA's joint annual Energy Choices Conference with the British Nuclear Energy Society on 1 December at Church House, Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for Competitiveness, said,
"We need to maintain a diverse energy portfolio with an emphasis on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. We don't see any one technology being a panacea for lowering emissions and ensuring reliable energy supplies".
Speaking at NIA's joint annual Energy Choices Conference with the British Nuclear Energy Society on 1 December at Church House, Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for Competitiveness, said, "We need to maintain a diverse energy portfolio with an emphasis on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. We don't see any one technology being a panacea for lowering emissions and ensuring reliable energy supplies". The Government's Energy Review strategy was clear from the Minister's speech; to create an energy policy for the future which combines targets of secure, affordable electricity supplies, whilst tackling the effects of climate change. Gardiner was voicing the words of Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks, who was Chairing the EU Energy Council in Brussels that day. Gardiner proved to be an articulate keynote speaker, dealing well with some of the stickier questions handed to him during the Q&A. First keynote speaker of the day was the Rt Hon Lord Wakeham, who gave an upbeat and encouraging speech. He felt the Treasury should be given a more extensive role in the question of energy policy, and that mitigation and adaptation to climate change were priorities. Jim Reinsch, President of the American Nuclear Society and senior Vice President of Bechtel recommended a change of attitude; incidents such as three-mile island prove the technology works and teach us how to improve further. He was concerned about the fact that the US, an energy guzzling nation, derives 20% of its electricity from nuclear and while new build has not yet started, demand is due to double by 2020. Representatives from Finland's TVO and South Africa's PBMR project welcomed their respective countries' unfolding projects towards new build, waste management and research and development. Steve Kidd of the World Nuclear Association suggested it was time to present nuclear to investors as a more traditional long-term Government bond, such as pension life insurance which the city is more accustomed to investing in. Sue Ion OBE, President of BNES, chaired the morning session deftly, keeping speakers to their time-limits. Philip Dewhurst, Chairman of NIA, chaired the afternoon session, introducing Simone Emmett, Managing Director of leading consultancy 'Strategic Awareness'. Simone made it clear that the industry needs to tell the public why nuclear matters to them to be convincing. Statistics were put forward by Ernst & Young's National Leader for Power and Utilities, Jon Hughes, which proved that nuclear would be a sound, low-risk investment compared to other energy options. He put the onus on the industry to get this message across and learn to put nuclear power in a more positive light to the stakeholders. Jeremy Nicholson of the Energy Intensive Users Group aired the concerns of the heavy energy users, revealing further cause for secure, internationally competitive energy prices. The Department of Trade and Industry is now having to consider the risk of losing its UK manufacturers due to their inability to afford high, volatile prices based on imported gas. Church House was, as always, the perfect forum for the event, but will be temporarily replaced in 2006 by the Institute of Electrical Engineers at Savoy Place, due to refurbishment taking place at Church House. The day's events were preceded by an overflowing annual reception held by NIA on the Terrace Marquee of the House of Commons and followed by the NIA/BNES/InucE Annual Dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, with numbers brimming to over 1000 guests. |
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