In reaction to the Scottish Green Party’s plan to move away from nuclear, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:

“The best green transition for workers is a new nuclear power station at Torness to keep the good jobs and investment flowing. Also what Scotland needs is a continued supply of clean, reliable power that works on days like today where renewable output is low and gas is the leading source of electricity in Scotland.

“Torness is Scotland’s most productive clean energy asset ever having produced enough clean electricity to power every home in Scotland for nearly 30 years, helping avoid over 100 million tonnes of CO2, and now is the time to invest in new nuclear to cut gas and create opportunities for communities.

“Scotland risks becoming an energy outlier as countries around the world, including over 30 at COP29, commit to new nuclear with Sweden, Finland and France all decarbonising their power grids using a mix of nuclear and renewables. Scotland should follow their lead and follow the science.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • EDF recently approved the life extension of Torness for another two years and will operate until March 2030. Heysham 2 (Lancashire) has also been extended until March 2030. Heysham 1 and Hartlepool (Teesside) have been granted one-year extensions until March 2027.
  • In November 2024 Torness overtook Hunterston B as Scotland’s most productive clean energy asset. It has produced 297.5 (TWh) terawatt hours of clean power, enough to power every home in Scotland for 29 years and saving 103 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
  • The UK has nine reactors across five nuclear sites providing around 14% of the country’s electricity from 5.9 GW of capacity. Of the current fleet only Sizewell B will be in operation after March 2030. Hinkley Point C is due to come online by the end of the decade.

About the NIA
As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry Association represents 300 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.

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Visit our website: https://www.niauk.org/
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For further information, please contact:
Iolo James
Head of Communications
[email protected]g
+447517108023


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