LANDSCAPE - THE TIMEFOR NUCLEAR IS NOWBy Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive Officer atthe Nuclear Industry AssociationRecently, the amount of lowcarbon power the world is goingto need to reach net zero and meetthe global commitments we havemade to limit carbon emissionshas seen the case for nuclear getmuch stronger. In fact, when theintermittency of other low-carbonsources is also taken into account,I think that nuclear’s currentposition is a strong as it has beenin the last 20 years. It is why weare seeing an increased focus onnuclear in many parts of the world.In the UK, a succession of policy documentshas underlined the importance of nuclearin the government’s future energy mix, buttalking about one new project getting to thepoint of a Final Investment Decision by theend of this Parliament is still going slowerthan we need to.We have known for a long time that ourcurrent fleet, with the exception of Sizewell B,is in its last few years. The best time to build anuclear power station is always 10 years ago;the second-best time to build one is now.And we need more than one.4Wherever you look around the world, whennuclear power stations come offline they arereplaced by higher-emitting sources of power.So large, small and advanced technologieshave all got an important part to play in thefuture energy mix.And the role of insurers is really importantbecause the ability to move forwardwith projects is inextricably linked to theconfidence that people have in both thetechnology and the process of constructionand operation. We could not realise thenumber of nuclear projects we are currently,or want to in the future, without thatspecialist, engaged section of the insurancesector. That is why NRI is as important a partof the nuclear industry as any of the other 250or so companies that make up the NuclearIndustry Association membership.The best time to builda nuclear power stationis always 10 years ago;the second-best timeto build one is now.And we need morethan one.
It seems that your browser's pop-up blocker has prevented us from opening a new window/tab. Please click the button below to open the link manually.
