Concern over British nuclear power stations

The Government today signalled its concern about the building of a new generation of nuclear power stations in Britain.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s department said safety issues, particularly from plants located along the Irish Sea, would impact upon Ireland.

The comments follow British Business Secretary John Hutton’s announcement that he is inviting energy companies to plan, build and run new nuclear stations in the UK.

The Government has long campaigned for the closure of the notorious Sellafield plant in Cumbria over its safety and environmental record.

The Department of Environment in Dublin said it recognised Britain had a sovereign right to choose its own energy sources but warned London’s decisions had an impact further afield.

“Ireland is affected by UK Government policy decisions taken in regard to nuclear issues,” said a spokesman for Minister Gormley’s department.

“This arises particularly in the context of reprocessing operations at Sellafield, which lead to radioactive contamination of the shared marine resource of the Irish Sea.”

The spokesman said the new generation of nuclear plants will give rise to a new source of spent nuclear fuel in about 15 years time.

“While this material could be placed in a deep geological repository, on the basis of a once through fuel cycle, it could well be reprocessed. This would be of concern to Ireland.

“New build would also give rise to concern for us in regard to the various other issues that arise from the nuclear industry.

“These include safety, security, proliferation, environmental impacts and transportation,” he added.

Environmental campaigners have already threatened to take legal action over the British Government’s consultation about its nuclear power plans.

Mr Hutton told the House of Commons it was in Britain’s public interest that new nuclear power stations have a role in the country’s future energy mix alongside other low-carbon sources.

“Giving the go ahead that new nuclear power should play a role in providing the UK with clean, secure and affordable energy is in our country’s vital long term interest,” he said.

“Set against the challenges of climate change and security of supply, the evidence in support of new nuclear power stations is compelling.”

Scotland blocked any proposed new nuclear stations coming north of England with its Finance secretary John Swinney branding them “unwanted and unnecessary”.