New Coalition Government Could Halt Britain’s Nuclear Plans

Tories and Lib Dems are closely aligned on a number of very important issues to secure the safety of the UK energy industry, like the creation of the UK’s green investment bank to support renewable energy generation investments, enhance the overall energy efficiency as well as government intervention in the carbon allowance market.

However, when the subject is Nuclear power both parties have opposite policies. The Tory policy wants to allow new nuclear power stations to be opened every 18 months whilst a key Lib-Dem manifesto goal was to halt the building of new nuclear power stations.

According to experts, Britain’s nuclear power programme of building up to 10 new stations could be at risk if the Liberal Democrats gain influence over energy in this new coalition government.

Ben Caldecott, head of policy at investment manager Climate Change Capital, said a Coalition Government could cause delays when investors need certainty.

“Nuclear is the biggest difference in energy policy and I can see it potentially getting kicked into the long grass if there’s a deal between the Tories and the Lib Dems, it could conceivably be one of the concessions that the Tories make and, as a result, an ambitious new build nuclear programme could be delayed. There’s no doubt a hung parliament does bring additional uncertainty.” he said.

And he added:

“If DECC [Department for Energy and Climate Change] did change hands and go yellow, then an ambitious new build nuclear programme is less likely to get going.”

John McNamara speaking on the behalf of 200 companies involved in the nuclear sector better known as the Nuclear Industry Association said that he the sector is confident that the nuclear plants will be built.

“We would just urge the Politicians to move forward with forming UK energy policy quickly,” he said.

Britain’s biggest energy suppliers like EDF, Centrica, RWE Npower and EON, all of which have plans to invest in new nuclear power plants have remained publicly silent during the negotiations.

Experts believe these negotiations could be costly and lengthy right when these companies are in need of certainty to start investing in the sector.

What is your onion about all this? Could Britain’s new coalition government put a halt on the construction of new nuclear power plants? Are you in favour or against nuclear power generation?

Make a difference and share your thoughts in our comments sections.