Secrecy prevails in UK nuclear power discussions

Concerned about national energy security, as supplies of natural gas are set both to soar and arrive on these shores from Russia by pipeline and the Middle East by boat to as yet unbuilt LNG ports, the Government is handing over the future of the UK energy industry to EU based enterprises.
London Evening News reports that SECRET meetings have taken place between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the massive European based energy companies who now own the bulk of the UK energy supply industry. Germany's E.On and RWE, better known by consumers Powergen and npower, and French state run London Electricity group EDF - held meetings with DTI officials in the summer, to discuss the construction and operation of new nuclear power stations in Britain. Secrecy the common currency of the Civil Service - which resulted in the fucking shambles of the industry we have today.

The Association of Electricity Producers, which speaks for E.On, RWE and EDF, confirmed it had a formal meeting with Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks in July. It is reported that they told Wicks:

"The Government should make it clear it would welcome the construction of new nuclear power stations and then reduce obstacles to the development of new nuclear power."

British Energy, operator of the country's current 8 nuclear power stations, cannot build any new capacity due to EU regulation as a result of receiving state aid in their re-structuring. British Energy now financially re-engineered (the shares have doubled in the last 12 months) announced in early September that Dungeness (which took 18 years to build after a series of massive and hugely expensive cock-ups) will be kept open until 2018 which would allow it to continue making a "powerful contribution" to the UK's energy needs and would safeguard hundreds of jobs. It insisted the decision would not pave the way for further extensions at its other UK nuclear power stations. British Energy have successively extended the useful life of their plants (which collectively only operate at 75% load) beyond their initial design life.

An E.On UK spokesman told the Evening Standard: "The chief executive [Paul Golby] has confirmed we have been talking to the Government about security of supply issues, and that included such things as the provision of nuclear power as a carbon-free technology. Those discussions remain private.

"The Government needs to make up its mind on the issue of nuclear first, but security of supply - ensuring the lights stay on - is a key issue for us and our customers."

An EDF spokesman (Andrew Brown the Chancellor’s brother , is head of media relations at EdF Tel : 020 7752 2268), said: "We welcome the Prime Minister's comments at the Labour Party conference last week. EDF Energy, like the rest of the industry, will consider its options as and when further decisions are made on this issue."

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