| Boffin backs CBI to urge Blair for nuclear power |
|
|
|
LONDON: Industry leaders are hoping to persuade Prime Minister Tony Blair to take a quick decision on the future of nuclear energy. Lending support to the Confederation of British Industry will be Mr Blair’s scientific advisor Sir David King.
The CBI members were prompted by growing concerns that rising fuel costs and a prolonged winter could lead to an energy crisis in the coming months. The government must also have a reliable policy to ensure it is able to meet its energy needs in the coming years, the CBI said.
Mr Blair is expected to take a decision ahead of an energy review that is due to report shortly. It is believed Mr Blair is convinced after Sir David urged him to “give the green light” to nuclear power stations.
Sir David explained that the government would be unable to meet its targets on reducing CO2 emissions by 2010 without commissioning more nuclear reactors. The CBI stressed this point and called for a comparative study of the cost of nuclear energy vis-à-vis power generated using other sources.
The business leaders insisted that one third of the UK’s generating capacity would have to be replaced by 2010. Faced with the rising cost of fuel, large consumers of gas such as the power stations might have to suffer cuts in their supply. New reactors, the CBI said, are the only way to meet our growing energy needs without greenhouse gas emissions.
The government was also called upon separately by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) which urged for the building of replacement nuclear reactors. They believe it to be the most cost effective form of energy.
The CBI’s director, general Sir Digby Jones, said a decision must be reached because “potential investors and the British public both deserve certainty”.
Meanwhile environment minister Margaret Beckett seemed unimpressed by CBI’s explanation. She said she did not deny that nuclear energy was a low carbon energy source but she said one must not overlook the other problems it brings with it. She specified that the cost of nuclear energy has “never been properly explored” and the problem of how to deal with the waste is being overlooked. The environment minister also said that she had always accepted that “we cannot afford to close the door on nuclear power”.
Mr Blair who now appears to sway in favour of nuclear power had two years ago considered it an “unattractive” option.
Posted
on : Tue, 22 Nov 2005 01:35 GMT | General News
By : Salim Patel
|
| |
| Related |
|
|
|
