| UK government to underline its support for new nuclear at scottish conference | | Print | |
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The UK’s Minister for Scotland, Jim Murphy, will underline Westminster’s intention to promote the future expansion of nuclear energy in the UK during a keynote address at an international conference in Edinburgh, on 16 February 2009. Speaking at PIME 2009*, an international conference for nuclear communicators from around the world, Jim Murphy will emphasise that the UK government sees further expansion of nuclear as a key element of Britain’s energy policy. Westminster favours further expansion of nuclear industry, which employs some 9,000 people in Scotland, to help ensure greater security of energy supplies in the future and to help the UK meet its CO2 reduction targets. In contrast the Scottish Government supports a phase-out of nuclear power when the lifetime of existing Scottish power plants comes to an end. Jim Murphy is likely to criticise that outlook as being contrary to the best interests of Scottish consumers and at odds with increasing political consensus across Europe that nuclear energy lies at the heart of Europe’s future low-carbon energy policy. Lord O’Neil of Clackmannan, Chairman of the UK Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) echoed the minister’s view by stressing recent positive trends in public opinion towards nuclear in Scotland. Lord O’Neill said: “Our recent national Ipsos-MORI opinion poll on the public acceptance of nuclear in Scotland showed that support among Scottish citizens for nuclear energy has increased from 33% in favour in 2007 (31% against) to 40% in favour in 2008 (24% against).” “Clearly, an increasing number of Scottish people believe that the road to greater energy security in Scotland includes an increase in the use of nuclear power.” Santiago San Antonio, Director General of FORATOM, the trade association representing the European nuclear industry, welcomed the continued support of the British government for nuclear energy, describing it as: “…consistent with the views of an increasing number of countries who see nuclear energy as a key to achieving stable and secure energy supplies for Europe and to promoting Europe’s low-carbon economy.” *PIME 2009 is organised by the European Nuclear Society (ENS) in cooperation with FORATOM. For more information on PIME 2009 visit the following web site: www.PIME2009.org Comments (0)
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