Prospect calls for action on UK nuclear future

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Prospect calls for action on UK nuclear future

Commenting on the news that French energy firm EDF has pulled out of a deal to buy British Energy, Prospect said the government must ensure that what emerges from this situation is in the long-term public interest for secure and sustainable energy, not short-term shareholder profit.

On behalf of over 2,100 members employed by nuclear power station operator British Energy, general secretary Paul Noon said:

“Britain has a wealth of talent in nuclear skills. The government’s job must be to ensure the necessary climate for investment in these skills as well as the construction of new nuclear power stations. If it is not going to build and operate the stations itself it must ensure that the market framework is there for the private sector to do this safely and effectively.

“We do not have the luxury of time. Failure to act now will result in huge problems over the next 10 years, with the UK reliant on imported gas and oil – a situation that would be an environmental, economic and political disaster.”

Prospect is the UK’s largest union in the nuclear industry representing over 15,000 scientists, engineers and professional staff.