That the UK government was seriously considering building nuclear power plants was signalled by the then PM Tony Blair 5 at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Annual Conference on 28 November 2005.
Here is a report discussing the announcement
Here is another link with quotations from blair
Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference Mr Blair told delegates that energy policy was back on the agenda “with a vengeance.”
“Round the world you can sense feverish re-thinking. Energy prices have risen. Energy supply is under threat. Climate change is producing a sense of urgency”, he said. “I can today announce that we have established a review of the UK’s progress against the medium and long-term Energy White Paper goals. The Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks will be in the lead, with the aim of publishing a policy statement on energy in the early summer of 2006.”
“It will include specifically the issue of whether we facilitate the development of a new generation of nuclear power stations,” he said.
The link below is to a news conference in on June 8th 2006. (The link will display in a new tab). The section on nuclear starts at 32:06 minutes in.
Link to Press Conference
From the transcript
Question from Journalist
You talked earlier about nuclear power coming back up the agenda with a vengeance, and I was wondering whether you think it is possible to build a new set of nuclear power stations with the kind of extended planning inquiries that we have had before the construction of places like Sizewell B? And secondly, how can a government set a regulatory framework that acknowledges the low carbon contribution of some nuclear power stations?
Reply from Blair
Well, I don't think I can say much more on the planning system, but I think it is very important to emphasize, because I think there is a misunderstanding maybe in parts of the public here. I am talking about replacing our existing nuclear power capability, because if we don't then over the next few years we are going to see a dramatic reduction. So sometimes this argument is put as if here am I saying right let's increase dramatically the amount of nuclear power we have. That is not the issue, the issue is over the next 15 years 20 percent of the electricity that we get in this country that comes from nuclear is going to decline to virtually nothing. So the question is, are you going to be able to make that up from other sources? And we are already planning to make a big push on renewables, we are already planning a major push on energy efficiency, and therefore to me it is very difficult to see how you are going to be able to have a secure energy supply in the future unless you are replacing at least the nuclear power stations that are going to be decommissioned. So I can't tell what the planning system is going to be yet, and that is something that obviously the Energy Review will look at, but that is the heart of the issue, it is whether you replace these ones.
It is clear from Blair's answer that he and his government supported the building of new nuclear power plants in 2006. Nuclear power was "coming back up the agenda with a vengeance" and "...to me it is very difficult to see how you are going to be able to have a secure energy supply in the future unless you are replacing at least the nuclear power stations that are going to be decommissioned."
Blair also mentioned the Energy Review which was published later in 2006.
Click on this link for the energy review
The Nuclear section starts on page 113
The Energy Review clearly supported the building of new nuclear power plants in line with the arguments of tony Blair above.
The Nuclear section of the report begins with the following paragraph
5.93 Nuclear power is a source of low carbon generation which contributes to the diversity of our energy supplies. Under likely scenarios for gas and carbon prices, new nuclear power stations would yield economic benefits in terms of carbon reduction and security of supply. Government believes that nuclear has a role to play in the future UK generating mix alongside other low carbon generating options. Evidence gathered during the Energy Review consultation supports this view.
Électricité de France (EDF) was clearly the likely builder of the Hinkley project early in the process. In February 2007 Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of UK division EDF Energy stated “EDF will turn on its first nuclear plant in Britain before Christmas 2017 because it will be the right time”.
Sources: https://www.mub.eps.manchester.ac.uk/nuclearhitchhiker/a-drop-in-the-ocean/ and https://docplayer.net/8662131-Hinkley-point-new-nuclear-power-plant-the-story-so-far.html
A bill to authorise the building of new nuclear power plants (among other things) was introduced into the House of Commons on 10th January 2008. Here is a link to the Bill
In introducing the bill the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton stated:
Giving the go-ahead today that new nuclear power should play a role in providing the UK with clean, secure and affordable energy is in our country’s vital long-term interest. I therefore invite energy companies today to bring forward plans to build and operate new nuclear power stations. Set against the challenges of climate change and security of supply, the evidence in support of new nuclear power stations is compelling. We should positively embrace the opportunity of delivering this important part of our energy policy..
Here is a link to Hansard showing Mr Hutton's statement.
