EDF, the French utility that runs Britain’s nuclear reactors, said on Wednesday power plants could suffer extended outages if a new safeguard regime and other measures were not in place when Britain exits the European Union in 2019. The regulation chief for EDF’s British unit, EDF Energy, also said construction of Hinkley Point C – the first nuclear plant to be built in Britain for more than 20 years – would be delayed unless Britain had a new regulatory regime to replace the EU‘s. Angela Hepworth was speaking at a parliamentary hearing on the impact of Brexit on Britain’s energy security. Her comments illustrate the challenges faced by London as it attempts to disentangle itself from decades of EU regulations, treaties and institutions. In the nuclear industry, the race is on for the government to replicate strict oversight of the industry and strike deals with other countries or concoct a transition agreement, in time for Britain’s withdrawal from the union in March 2019.
Reuters 13th Sept 2017 read more »
The British government said on Thursday it was in talks with the European Union to ensure a smooth transition for its nuclear industry as Britain moves away from Euratom’s regulatory regime to a domestic one. The nuclear industry has raised concerns that its operations and investments could be hampered should Britain fail to replicate the regulatory regime provided by Euratom, the EU’s atomic agency, in time for Brexit in March 2019.
Reuters 14th Sept 2017 read more »
The UK Government is to establish a domestic nuclear safeguards regime to help deliver to existing standards as the nation leaves the EU. It aims to ensure the UK continues to maintain it position as a responsible nuclear state and withdrawal from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) doesn’t weaken future safeguards standards. Business and Energy Minister Greg Clark said the new regime will deliver to existing Euratom standards and exceed the standard that the international community would require from the UK as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He added the government will be exploring a number of options for “smooth transition” from the current Euratom regime to a domestic one. The news follows the nuclear industry’s concerns that investment and operations could be hampered if Britain fails to replicate the regulatory regime provided by Euratom.
Energy Live News 14th Sept 2017 read more »
A domestic nuclear safeguards regime will be established to ensure Britain’s withdrawal from Euratom does not affect standards, the Business Secretary has announced. In a written statement Mr Clark said the new domestic nuclear safeguards regime – to be run by the Office for Nuclear Regulation – would be as “comprehensive and robust as that currently provided by Euratom”.
Belfast Telegraph 14th Sept 2017 read more »
