Nuclear power 'not the solution'
Nuclear power 'not the solution'
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Monday, 06, Mar 2006 01:09
Expanding the UK's nuclear capacity will not supply the solution to the country's future energy needs, an advisory panel report has warned.
According to the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), while nuclear power holds some advantages in the light of concerns over coal and gas supplies, the risks associated with a nuclear strategy significantly outweigh the advantages.
The report highlighted concerns over the disposal of nuclear waste, the hefty costs involved in increasing nuclear capacity and the associated security and safety risks as major drawbacks to a nuclear strategy.
It also criticised the government for attempting to find an "easy fix" to the UK's energy concerns and warned that embarking on a major nuclear drive would give out the wrong message to energy users, as the authorities should be concentrating on encouraging people to use less electricity rather than blindly expanding supply.
Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the SDC, has warned that the current debates about nuclear power are over-simplistic.
"Its vital that we get to grips with the complexity of nuclear power. Far too often, the debate is highly polarised, with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) claiming to see no advantages to nuclear at all, and the pro-nuclear lobby claiming that its the only solution available to us," he said.
He added: "Instead of hurtling along to a pre-judged conclusion, we must look to the evidence.
"Theres little point in denying that nuclear power has benefits, but in our view, these are outweighed by serious disadvantages. The government is going to have to stop looking for an easy fix to our climate change and energy crises - there simply isnt one."
Instead of pursuing a nuclear strategy, the report recommends that the government should step up the use of low-carbon energy sources as well as expanding its use of renewable energy.
The SDC also called for more attention to be paid to encouraging greater energy efficiency among energy users.
The commission's findings will be submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which is currently undertaking a wideranging energy review due to be published later this year and is widely expected to sanction an increase in the UK's nuclear capacity.
Prime minister Tony Blair has indicated on a number of occasions over the past 12 months that he may be in favour of increasing the use of nuclear power in the UK, telling the Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) annual conference last November that it could represent the only "viable" means of achieving emissions targets.
Today's report has therefore been seized on by the Conservatives, with trade and industry spokesman Alan Duncan suggesting that it undermined the government's energy strategy.
"This report puts a spanner in the works for the Government, who everybody believes has already made up its mind in favour of nuclear," Mr Duncan said.
The Tories are currently conducting their own energy review, with early indications suggesting that it is likely to come out strongly against nuclear power.