NIA - The Nuclear Industry Association

Enlightened Choices

The new Energy Minister, Mike O'Brien MP, welcomes investment offers, saying new nuclear build is something the government will seriously consider.

Energy Minister Mike O'Brien MP addressing the Energy Choices 2004 conference - "Could the lights go out?"

The new Energy Minister, Mike O'Brien MP, welcomes investment offers, saying new nuclear build is something the government will seriously consider.

The Minister of State for Energy and E-Commerce directly addressed the nuclear industry for the first time on 2 December 2004 at the NIA and BNES joint Annual Conference, 'Energy Choices', themed "Could the Lights Go Out?" Reciting current government policy as set out in the 2003 Energy White Paper, he expects nuclear energy to continue to play a part in the UK's energy mix and feels that new build is still an option for the future.

The Minister feels that the market is responding to fluctuations in gas supplies. The Government is keen for further supplies of oil and gas to be extracted from the North Sea, seeking projects with Norway and interconnectors with Europe. Hopes for ambitious renewables targets to be met remain high, with plans for a shift to large scale off shore wind and aspirations for substantial progress with other sources such as biomass.

On nuclear, the clear message from O'Brien is that in the medium to long-term, it is the market that will indicate where investment will be and at present there are no offers of investment in nuclear power. If that changes, then the government will reconsider existing plans for the industry.

Energy choices broke its own record once again with an audience of 254 at Westminster's Church House. "Shaping and Assessing Public Opinion" and "Studying for the Future", were the subjects of the day, and a step in a new enlightened direction for the sector with speakers from outside the industry giving a unique and insightful perspective on the nuclear issue.

Dai Richards, producer of BBC drama/documentary "IF�the lights go out", demonstrated how the media can shape society's views and how the programme itself has raised new interest and concern in the public eye about security of energy supply in the UK. Viewing figures for the programme were impressively high throughout, and Richards feels that the programme has introduced a "wake-up factor" to energy issues. We are witnessing a positive turn in the public's sentiment on nuclear power and the key now for the industry is to capitalise on the opportunity to extend support for new nuclear build.

According to the latest MORI poll, the figures have improved to 35% favourable and 30% unfavourable

Research Director of MORI, Robert Knight revealed that the polls tell us there is favourable sentiment in Parliament and among the general public towards nuclear energy. The results of many of the surveys show impressive support from Conservative MPs and a more balanced split in Labour ranks. Comparison surveys demonstrate that replacement new build to preserve the status quo is now a more acceptable proposition. Knight feels that a "wind of change is blowing" and the next move for the industry should be to tackle the remaining big issues through communication and public engagement.

'Communication' and 'public engagement' prevailed during a talk by Gordon MacKerron, the Chairman of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), who confirmed that building trust in the decision making process on the issue of radioactive waste management is fundamental to success. CoRWM is now whittling down its "long list of options" and eliciting public opinion on the criteria it is using to evaluate the options. The real challenge will be translating their findings into a final decision.

Bill Tynan MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy, aired concerns about depending on imported gas from politically unstable parts of the world and spoke encouragingly of a positive move in Parliament in the coming year on energy issues. Tynan recognises the financial concerns in terms of new build, but feels that one cannot put a price on security of supply. He urges the industry to exert more pressure for new build after the next general election and looks forward to a policy of a balanced integrated mix of energy supply.

Lord Jenkin discusses media influence on the nuclear industry with Dai Richards, producer of the BBC "If... the lights go out" programme during the conference

Sir Anthony Cleaver, Chairman of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), spoke of the mission ahead in terms of decommissioning and the obligations that it carries with it under the Energy Act. Although the nuclear industry's safety record is outstandingly good, it is not recognised as such in the public eye. Environmental safety and security in the face of terrorism have recently been stepped up on nuclear sites. The NDA now faces organisational challenges and public engagement tasks geared towards widespread acceptability. Commercial competition will be a healthy ingredient in creating a successful NDA.

Richard Clegg, Director of Project Dalton at the University of Manchester gave an update on the project; it is established as one of Manchester's five institutes and business and operational plans are in place; £1million in funds have been applied for and professorial appointments are expected in radiation chemistry and engineering.

Simon Franklin, Director of the Consort Reactor Centre at Imperial College, London represented the Young Generation Network's (YGN) concerns on closure of the research reactor, which Franklin feels gives young people the experience of working in a live arena and helps guide their career. A decision on closure will be made by January 2005, so the end could be nigh.

Energy Choices conferences have evolved into a necessary and successful vehicle for communication with the industry, parliament and the media and through them the public.

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