UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne presented to Parliament the findings of the Chief Nuclear Inspector’s interim report on the events at the Fukushima plant in Japan earlier today.
Huhne asked for an interim report to consider any immediate lessons that could be applied to the UK nuclear industry, with the final report due in September of this year.
In the report, Dr. Weightman found that current safety regulations were adequate and that there is no necessity to make immediate safety improvements to operating nuclear reactors in the UK.
Chris Huhne said:
“Safety is and will continue to be the number one priority. I am pleased that today’s report confirms that the UK’s current safety arrangements are working. I want regulators and the industry to work together, so that we continue to improve our safety regime.
“The Chief Nuclear Inspector has made clear the differences between Japan and the UK. We do not use the same reactor types, and do not plan to in future. We also do not expect to experience the extreme natural events seen in Japan.”
“Dr Weightman’s interim report is authoritative and detailed and I thank him for his work. It provides us with the basis to continue to remove the barriers to nuclear new build in the UK. 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.”
