2009 the year of nuclear transition - Westminster Energy Forum

Monday, 9 February 2009

Mark Higson, CEO, Office of Nuclear Development, DECC

How the OND will help to manage the UK new build process and protect the ‘critical delivery path’ 

One year on from the Energy White paper, Higson said six issues needed to be addressed now to make nuclear new build a success. 

The first was a firm policy. In 2006 the UK government had made it clear that nuclear power had a role, but this was challenged by Greenpeace and resulted in a Judicial Review.

The judgement by Judge Solomon was that the government’s consultation on the nuclear issue had been ‘inadequate, and on the nuclear waste issue ‘misleading’.  

A further consultation was then undertaken encompassing 4,000 individuals and groups. The process had been a ‘cautionary tale’, but government policy was, in his opinion, now clear and had a mandate.

Nuclear had a part to play in the energy mix, but it would be taken forward by the private sector, without subsidy. 

The second element was a coherent plan. The government’s job was facilitative issues, from the generic design of reactors and site selection to decommissioning.

A timetable was now quickly emerging with a construction period for the first new nuclear power stations of 2011 to 2017. There was even the possibility that this timetable could be accelerated if some activities could be run in parallel.

2009 was set to be a year of transition from government to industry with the The Nuclear Forum playing a role and holding the government to account. 

The third issue was commitment. Higson said the Office of Nuclear development would facilitate, while not being an arm of the nuclear industry.

He also said that, in the last 12 months the government’s commitment had been solidified by the climate change and energy security agendas. Three pieces of policy – the Climate Change Act, the Energy Act and the Planning Act were now in place. 

Sites for new power stations now had to be nominated by 31 March 2009. Higson identified Supply Chain and Skills as two more issues but unfortunately chose not to dwell on these as the audience felt this was a key area that needed to be addressed.

He then highlighted key risks and mitigations. Eight identified were siting, legal challenges, attraction of other countries beyond the UK, continuing government commitment, supply chain capacity, building public understanding and respect, safety waste and pollution, and finally cost. He concluded that 2009 would see the decisive move to delivery. 

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