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Draft rules for nuclear plant build published

The government on Tuesday published draft rules for the building of nuclear power plants in England and Wales.

The government wants potential investors to propose sites to build new stations to replace those due for decommissioning.

It is proposing that the Strategic Siting Assessments should look at factors such as the risks posed by earth tremors, tsunamis, storm surges, coastal erosion and sea level rises.

"Nuclear power is an essential part of our future energy mix. Alongside a ten fold increase in renewables and investment in clean coal technology, it will help wean us off our dependency on oil and protect us against the
politicisation of energy supplies," said business secretary John Hutton.

"We must do everything we can to remove any remaining barriers and open up the UK as the most attractive place in the world to invest in nuclear power," he said.

The government expects the final selection criteria will be ready by early 2009.

Proposals for sites will be included in a National Policy Statement on nuclear power to be published a year later.

If planning approval is given, building work could begin in 2013-2014 with power generation starting in 2017-2020.

Nuclear supplies about a fifth percent of Britain's electricity.

Separately, the Department for Business has dismissed reports it has already drawn up a list of sites alongside existing reactors.