ICE Director General, Nick Baveystock, said:
“Nuclear energy - as part of a diverse energy portfolio – has an important role to play in meeting the UK’s future energy challenges. This deal therefore marks a major step forward in realising its potential and we hope to see Hinkley being the first of a whole fleet of new nuclear stations, allowing costs to be reduced over the course of the programme, limiting the impact on consumer bills.
“Passage of the Energy Bill still however remains a crucial missing piece of this jigsaw. While the agreement on a strike price lifts the cloud of uncertainty for investors and demonstrates Government’s commitment to the future of nuclear, it is the Energy Bill that will provide the necessary strategic direction required to build investor confidence in the long term. We urge prompt progress to secure its passage.”
In light of these developments, ICE is holding its first national-scale nuclear conference to examine the engineering realities of delivering nuclear power. The technical and operational challenges that stand between the nuclear ready environment Government has created, and its translation to productive industry will be addressed.
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For further information see: www.ice-nuclear.com
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