European power firms call for clear rules on new nuclear plants

European power companies called Friday for urgent EU-wide moves to clear the way for new nuclear plants, stressing the security and climate change dangers of a failure to act.

“We have a barrel of oil costing 135 dollars a barrel, it is urgent to act. Industry cannot wait for a gradual approach to lead to convergence (in harmonised safety rules),” Electricite de France board member Bruno Lescoeur warned on the second, final day of the European Nuclear Energy Forum.
Companies want standard certification procedures for new nuclear plants as Europe faces the challenge of replacing many ageing reactors and the forum called for the European Commission to come up with a clear directive.

“We have to renew 50 percent of electricity production in the EU between now and 2030. This is one of the major problems we face,” European Parliament member Nicole Fontaine told the gathering, which brought together industry regulators, politicians and power companies.

AFP