Boris Johnson has emphasised the importance and efficiency of nuclear power and promised funding for the construction of Sizewell C powerstation.
During the last major policy speech of his tenure before the next prime minister is confirmed on Monday, Johnson confirmed £700 million of funding to be put towards the Sizewell C project in Suffolk and called on his successor to “go nuclear and go large”.
Sizewell C is a project to construct a huge nuclear power station in Suffolk. It was proposed by a consortium of EDF energy and China General Nuclear Power Group, which own 80% and 20% of the project. The construction cost is £20bn.
The outgoing PM called on the UK to “pull our national finger out” and make haste with developing nuclear power in order to gradually bring-down household bills.
He compared the UK to France and other countries that derive around 70% of their electricity from nuclear energy. The UK derives just 15 per cent.
“Why have we never got back to that kind of rhythm?” he asked.
But Andy Mayer, Energy Analyst at free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs, said Johnson’s speech contained “ no useful solutions”.
” He went ‘large’ on nuclear power and expressed his admiration for France, from whom we are buying four reactors at Hinkley Point and Sizewell,” said Mayer.
“But the French industry is in trouble. Half their ageing fleet of 20th century reactors is offline, making France reliant on imported energy from the UK”
“This is not a model to copy.”
In the speech, Johnson blamed the previous Labour government for doing “absolutely nothing.:
“For 13 years the previous Labour government did absolutely nothing to develop this country’s nuclear industry. They said it didn’t make economic sense.
“Thanks a bunch Tony. Thanks a bunch Gordon, he said.
Shadow international development secretary, Preet Kaur Gill, described this as misleading.
“Boris Johnson is again misleading the British public. Gordon Brown, in 2009 approved 10 nuclear power stations to be built. The Conservatives failed to build them. Integrity in politics matters!”
Johnson reiterated the longevity of the plan and claimed it wasn’t just a quick fix:
“A baby born this year will be getting energy from Sizewell C long after she retires and this new reactor is just a part of our Great British nuclear campaign.”
However, it is important to note that the construction of power stations of this scale is a timely process that will take many years to be useable and functioning.
Andy Prendergast, GMB national secretary, said Johnson’s decision “is a belated step in the right direction – but it should have happened years ago.”
“Years of political failure to make the right decision on new nuclear means we are woefully unprepared for the energy crisis facing us today.”
