NIA - The Nuclear Industry Association

Editorial

Monday, 24 July 2006

In the light of two years of change in the industry, the Nuclear Industry Association Board felt that a wholesale review of NIA's objectives, structure and funding was appropriate. This has been achieved with notable outcomes.

Tony Cooper, NIA Chairman

In the light of two years of change in the industry, including the confirmation in the White Paper to keep the nuclear option open, the Bill implementing the NDA, currently wending its way through Parliament, and the restructuring of BNFL and British Energy following a difficult financial year, the Nuclear Industry Association Board felt that a wholesale review of NIA's objectives, structure and funding was appropriate. This has been achieved with notable outcomes.

Our provision of industry-wide networking arrangements within the UK will not shift, but operate more effectively through liaison between our working groups and the new all party parliamentary group and through our nominee to the board of the industry skills council.

Our lobbying effort will concentrate on the essential shorter-term objectives, which are necessary before 'new build' becomes a practical as well as desirable option:

Reform of the electricity market.
Implementation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
A sensible solution to waste management.
Improved public and political acceptance.

NIA will be reorganised into a small team of functional departments dealing respectively with communications; external relations; industrial networking and research; and administration, reporting to the Chief Executive.

We also propose to reduce the combined funding contribution of BNFL and British Energy from about 70% to no more than 50% over two years. In the Board's judgement, the introduction of the NDA and competition into the activity of decommissioning will eventually lead to a significant change in the balance between companies in the industry. This will change the balance of funding for NIA so it is important that the current imbalance is corrected as soon as possible.

I am confident as Chairman that we can achieve with these changes, a more focussed and value for money organisation and a more effective industry association.

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