Future of nuclear power industry in Scotland 'uncertain' with concerns about regulation and waste disposal to be resolved
The future of the nuclear power industry in Scotland is ‘uncertain’, the boss of EDF Energy has warned, with concerns about regulation and waste disposal yet to be resolved.
EDF Energy boss Vincent de Rivaz said Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had promised him that the firm’s two Scottish nuclear power stations - Torness and Hunterston - would have a future.
But in a letter to staff he said the SNP has so far failed to come up with a plan on how the nuclear industry would operate in the event of independence.
Promises: EDF Energy boss Vincent de Rivaz said Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had so far failed to come up with a plan on how the nuclear industry would operate in the event of independence
He raised particular concerns about who the nuclear regulator would be and how the regime for decommissioning plants and disposing of radioactive waste would work. He warned that ‘the answers to these questions remain uncertain’.
He added: ‘I am not complacent about these uncertainties and we will be ready.’
De Rivaz also questioned whether Scotland would be part of a single UK energy market and what the currency and tax regime would look like.
EDF Energy, which has eight nuclear power stations in Britain, has secured a promise from Salmond that the life of Hunterston and Torness will be extended. But Salmond has also pledged to phase out the technology in a bid to create a ‘nuclear free’ Scotland.
De Rivaz’s concerns about the nuclear industry were backed up by experts who warned that Scotland would have to spend ‘billions’ to build storage for nuclear waste. Nuclear expert Malcolm Grimston of Imperial College said it could take up to 25 years to plan and build a permanent underground dump.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW's Vision Neue Klasse X unveils its sports activity vehicle future
- Paul McCartney's psychedelic Wings 1972 double-decker tour bus
- Skoda reveals Skoda Epiq as part of an all-electric car portfolio
- German car giant BMW has released the X2 and it has gone electric!
- MG unveils new MG3 - Britain's cheapest full-hybrid car
- Iconic Dodge Charger goes electric as company unveils its Daytona
- Steve McQueen featured driving famous stunt car in 'The Hunter'
- The new Volkswagen Passat - a long range PHEV that's only available as an estate
- Mini unveil an electrified version of their popular Countryman
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- How to invest to beat tax raids and make more of your money
- How to invest for income and growth: SAINTS' James Dow
- Investors to vote on plans to double London Stock...
- One-off payouts drive UK dividends to £15.6bn in the...
- Mini's electric ace up its sleeve: New Aceman EV has a...
- BHP swoops on rival Anglo American in £31bn mining megadeal
- Barclays profits hit by subdued mortgage lending and...
- 'It's unprecedented': Amazon hits back at CMA focus on...
- Meta announces it is to plough billions into artificial...
- BUSINESS LIVE: Barclays profits slip; Sainsbury's ups...
- Car insurers to make pay monthly cheaper and fairer after...
- Tory windfall tax war 'is killing off North Sea oil'......
- Unilever sales jump as consumer giant eases price hikes
- Schroders boss Peter Harrison to retire in 2025 after...
- Windfall tax is driving UK oil and gas producers to...
- Lloyds cheers green shoots in housing market - but takes...
- MARKET REPORT: Reckitt cleans up but Footsie gives up gains
- Tesla shares rocket after pledge to bring forward launch...
- Boeing burns through £1bn a month to contain 737 safety...
- Sainsbury's enjoys food sales boost months after...