Isra-Mart srl : Huhne backs nuclear after report signals all-clear

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Energy and Climate Change secretary Chris Huhne has reaffirmed that nuclear power will remain a fundamental part of the UK's energy mix, after the industry was given the all-clear to press ahead with future plants by the Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations.

Huhne commissioned Dr Mike Weightman to review the UK's nuclear fleet in the wake of the crisis at Japan's Fukushima power plant.

The disaster prompted calls from green groups to abandon plans for new nuclear reactors in favour of renewable energy, while surveys suggested that support for the technology had plummeted. Meanwhile, Germany closed seven of its oldest reactors over safety fears.

However, Weightman published interim conclusions of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Report (PDF) today, finding that the improbability of UK reactors facing similar natural disasters means there is no reason to limit their operations.

"In considering the direct causes of the Fukushima accident we see no reason for curtailing the operation of nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities in the UK," the report said.

Weightman added that current safety measures were adequate, and that changing the siting of reactors or making immediate safety improvements was unnecessary.

"The extreme natural events that preceded the accident at Fukushima - the magnitude nine earthquake and subsequent huge tsunami - are not credible in the UK," he said.

"We are 1,000 miles from the nearest fault line and we have safeguards in place that protect against even very remote hazards. Our operating and proposed future reactor designs and technology are different to the type at the Fukushima plant."

However, Weightman that said, no matter the difference in design and operation, there was "considerable scope" to learn about people's behaviour in severe accident conditions that could improve contingency arrangements and training in the UK.

Huhne maintained that the review's findings cleared the way for new nuclear in the UK.

"I am pleased that today's report confirms that the UK's current safety arrangements are working. It provides us with the basis to continue to remove the barriers to nuclear new build in the UK," he said.

"We want to see new nuclear as part of a low carbon energy mix going forward, provided there is no public subsidy. The Chief Nuclear Inspector's interim report reassures me that it can."

Weightman will publish a full report in September, but will now depart on a fact-finding mission to Japan for the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Workers at Fukushima are continuing their battle to cool the reactors, and may bring the units down to a stable temperature by January 2012, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which owns the plant, said yesterday.

TEPCO has been trying to cool the reactors by flooding them with water, but fears of contaminated water leaking into the sea or groundwater has forced the company to change tack.

Instead, water already inside the reactor will now be circulated to cool the melted fuel rods.