Minister May Give Wylfa Nuclear Plant Extra Years

by Sam
(North Wales)

Wylfa Nuclear Power Station may get an extra lease of life, following a request from Anglesey MP Albert Owen to Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband.

Mr Owen asked the Energy Minister to consider the possibility of allowing some nuclear plants to remain active so as to maintain electricity capacity while the UK waits for the new generation of reactors to come on line.


Mr Miliband offered to consider meeting with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which owns the Wylfa site, with a view to extending the life of the plant at Cemaes.

During questions in the House of Commons, Mr Miliband said: “Our team will definitely undertake to meet my honourable friend and I will definitely consider his suggestion.

“Lots of people have changed their opinion of nuclear power on the basis of the climate change challenge that we face.

“I think that we have got the right policy on nuclear, but I will endeavour also to look at the issue he has raised.”

We will have to wait until 2009 before a decision can be made on whether or not to extend Wylfa, according to the NDA.

The decision could be crucial because the fate of the aluminium smelter at Holyhead and its 500 jobs is in the balance.

Extending the life of the plant would mean a new electricity contract could be secured, allowing Anglesey Aluminium to remain in business.

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