Delivering record full year results, the chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), Ian Marchant, has indicated the company considers new nuclear generation to be more of an opportunity than a threat.
Marchant’s comments follow recent indications from prime minister Tony Blair that the ongoing energy review, which is expected to deliver its conclusions in July, will come down in favour of developing a new generation of nuclear reactors.
While Marchant acknowledged that it would be “five years before any real money gets spent” on new nuclear stations, SSE “needed to be in a position to play a part” when it does. “At the moment we have no choice – we can't play. But next year we will look at working out options to take part. It could be through [energy supply] contracts or as part of a consortium. Nuclear is more of an opportunity than a threat, but we have to make sure of that,” said Marchant.
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