British Energy calls for partners to build new wave of nuclear plants

British Energy called yesterday for partners to help build a new generation of nuclear plants by 2016, fuelling expectations that the government will give the final go-ahead within weeks for more atomic power. Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley Point in Somerset are being promoted by British Energy as the best potential sites for building new plants.

The company, which is still 65% government owned, made its pitch after reporting a doubling of nine-monthly pre-tax profits to
Bill Coley, chief executive, said: “We have today launched a process to invite potential partners for new nuclear generation projects in the UK. Construction of new nuclear power stations is critical to meeting the UK’s security of supply and climate change objectives.”

British Energy has up until now kept quiet in the debate about new reactors, arguing that it had to sort out its internal problems before focusing on more plants. A disastrous performance in the past – the government had to come to the rescue three years ago – also made it a bad advert for nuclear, argue critics.

But strong results for the nine months to December 31 have left Mr Coley in bullish form and he said it was not “unrealistic” to expect new nuclear plants to be on stream by 2018 or before, depending on how the planning process worked.

The Guardian