UK nuclear energy deal collapses. Do you think the French government should help us run our old and build our new nuclear reactors?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7536479.stm
A bit of background:
We have 19 nuclear reactors many of which which will need decommission/replacing over the next decade. EDF, 85% owned by the French government, is interested in buying British energy and its 8 reactors. EDF also want to be 'a major actor in the nuclear rebirth in Britain'. But the deal has had a recent setback, see link. The French arguably lead the world in nuclear reactor use (but probably in old designs) and I believe also have access to a fair amount of nuclear fuel from former colonies. France has 58 nuclear reactors from which it generates most of its electricity (I forget the percentage, but its high) while we generate 19% through nuclear and import about 3% of France's mostly nuclear generated electricity. So they have a fair bit of experience in nuclear and the sale of our old reactors would help fill the chancellors coffers, but is it a good idea to let France do our nuclear for us? We can concentrate on being a nation of shop-keepers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7536479.stm
A bit of background:
We have 19 nuclear reactors many of which which will need decommission/replacing over the next decade. EDF, 85% owned by the French government, is interested in buying British energy and its 8 reactors. EDF also want to be 'a major actor in the nuclear rebirth in Britain'. But the deal has had a recent setback, see link. The French arguably lead the world in nuclear reactor use (but probably in old designs) and I believe also have access to a fair amount of nuclear fuel from former colonies. France has 58 nuclear reactors from which it generates most of its electricity (I forget the percentage, but its high) while we generate 19% through nuclear and import about 3% of France's mostly nuclear generated electricity. So they have a fair bit of experience in nuclear and the sale of our old reactors would help fill the chancellors coffers, but is it a good idea to let France do our nuclear for us? We can concentrate on being a nation of shop-keepers.
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