| NIA welcomes new French reactor - and urges focus on new nuclear delivery for UK | | Print | |
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The Nuclear Industry Association welcomed President Sarkozy’s announcement that a second European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) is to be built in France – and urged greater focus on delivery of new generating capacity for the UK. The NIA, the UK nuclear trade association which represents more than 160 UK-Based nuclear companies and some 80,000 British nuclear workers welcomed the new development, and said the challenge of delivering new nuclear for Britain must remain a “top priority for industry and government.” Construction of Areva’s 1,600-megawatt third generation reactor unit is expected to start in 2012 at the existing Penly nuclear power plant site in northern France, which houses two pressurised water reactor units. The new unit is expected to start operation by 2017. NIA member company Areva said the EPR reactor design had been selected for its economic and environmental performance and for a level of safety “unmatched in the market today”. NIA Chief Executive Keith Parker welcomed the news – and urged greater focus on delivering energy security for the UK. “This is good news and underlines nuclear’s benefits of delivering energy security and stably-priced, low carbon generation. There is a worldwide nuclear renaissance and it is essential the UK is well-placed to benefit,” he said. “New nuclear for the UK is now firm government policy and the industry must work ever more closely with government to maintain the momentum and ensure we deliver these benefits to Britain.” A project management company will be established by Electricite de France (EDF) as a majority shareholder with GDF Suez and will be open to other investment partners. EDF will present details of the project for public debate in the coming weeks. In December 2007, EDF announced the start of construction of the first EPR in France, Flamanville-3 in Normandy. The EPR is also one of the reactor designs submitted to UK regulators for generic design assessment as part of that country’s plans for nuclear new build. The move was also welcomed by Santiago San Antonio, Director-General of the European nuclear association, FORATOM.
He said: “There is now a total of nine new nuclear units being built across Europe. This emphasises that the nuclear revival is not only sustainable but also gaining momentum.” Comments (0)
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