14 June 2006
Scottish ministers have finally managed to make their submission to Tony Blair's energy review - two months late and just a few weeks before the Prime Minister is expected to give the go-ahead to new nuclear power stations.
In a response published this afternoon, the Scottish Executive reiterates its current opposition to the development of nuclear power. "The building of any new nuclear power station in Scotland would require consent from Scottish Executive ministers under their powers under the Electricity Act 1989," it says.
"The Scottish Executive has clearly set out in its Partnership Agreement that it will not support the further development of nuclear power stations in Scotland while waste management issues remain unresolved."
The Executive points out that that the two nuclear stations that currently provide a third of the electricity generated in Scotland could have their operating lives extended. The current closure dates for Hunterston in North Ayrshire (2011) and Torness in East Lothian (2023) could each be postponed by five to 10 years.
The Executive also calls for more support for renewable energy sources, particularly wave and tidal power, and energy efficiency. Increased backing is also needed for plans to capture and store carbon from burning fossil fuels in depleted oil and gas fields in the North Sea, it argues.
Blair launched his energy review last November, and responses to a consultation paper were requested by 14 April. The Executive's delay in submitting its response has provoked criticism, with environmentalists worried that Blair would ignore Scotland's views.
"The Executive must warn Tony Blair that it will use all the devolved powers at its disposal to halt any attempts to impose new nuclear power stations on Scotland," said Duncan McLaren, the chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland.
According to the Enterprise Minister, Nicol Stephen, officials had been "fully engaged" with their Whitehall counterparts at every stage of the energy review. "As a result, the Department of Trade and Industry are already fully aware of the issues that are raised in our formal response," he said.
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