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UK to OK new nuclear plants
Steam rises from the cooling towers at Sellafield nuclear plant behind the village of Seascale in North England, September 2002.
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TEXT OF STORY
MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: The UK might give a boost to the global atomic energy industry. Today the government there is expected to publish the findings of a major review of its energy policy and give the go- ahead to build a new generation of nuclear power plants. From London, Stephen Beard has the story.
STEPHEN BEARD: Like many countries the UK faces an energy dilemma. It derives a fifth of its electricity from nuclear power, but that supply will dwindle over the next decade and a half as the power stations wind down.
The British government has now decided to build new ones. Energy minister Malcolm Wicks says nuclear power looks more attractive now as it does not emit much greenhouse gas and won't add to global warming.
And he says, nuclear power reduces Britain's dependence on foreign imports of oil and gas:
MALCOLM WICKS: It would be an energy that we are producing here in the United Kingdom. It would be, as it were, homegrown. And I am worried about over-relying on imports in the future.
Britain is likely to buy as many 10 new nuclear power plants. Other countries may follow suit stimulating an industry hampered for years by environmental worries.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
