NIA endorses ETI report’s low cost nuclear claim

Several recent cases of projects, including Hinckley Point C, that have run or threatened to run over budget or deadline have increased criticism of the industry. However, the ITI pinpointed a number of areas where tighter controls have enabled successful projects to complete on promised timescales and cost.

Included among these are governance, supply chain, project execution, labour, equipment, design, operation and regulatory environment.

Peter Haslam, NIA head of policy, said: “This evidence-led report shows new nuclear need not be expensive, and identifies key areas of nuclear plant design, construction and operation that could deliver significant cost reductions, through joint action by all parties.”

This evidence-led report shows new nuclear need not be expensive and identifies key areas that could deliver significant cost reductions

Peter Haslam, head of policy, NIA 

He added that the nuclear industry was committed to reducing the costs to the consumer of low carbon electricity form nuclear new build and would seek to deliver this by collaborating with Government through the nuclear sector deal to deliver this.

“The NIA will work with ETI, government and industry to identify how these can be delivered and we look forward to discussing this further with them and other interested parties,” said Haslam.

In April Simon Sjenitzer, director – energy & climate change business development at WYG, pre-empted the report when he outlined on Process Engineering online the perceived benefits of small modular reactors.