UK manufacturers lobby group the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) has set out its own long-term energy strategy as part of its contribution the UK’s energy policy review process that ended recently.
The EEF calls for a generation portfolio that includes fossil fuels, renewables and nuclear power. Although EEF does not believe government should underwrite the nuclear industry, government must address planning, licensing and liabilities issues that will make a substantial difference to the rate of return required by investors.
The comments echo those of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which calls for the government to give more detail on its plans for future restrictions on carbon emissions in order for low carbon energy sources, including nuclear, to play a proper role.
Nuclear generator British Energy has also called for a balanced energy mix, including nuclear power, to emerge from the energy policy review process.
Bill Coley, chief executive of BE said: “The UK needs a balanced energy mix to meet its climate change commitments and to maintain its security of supply. To achieve this requires government to create a framework that provides long-term certainty for investment. We believe nuclear is a crucial part of the mix and a replacement nuclear build programme will safeguard the benefits this technology provides.”
