A new small nuclear power station is being planned at Trawsfynydd in Snowdonia, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. Mr Johnson made the announcement in his speech to the Welsh Conservative party conference in Newtown on Friday.
The Prime Minister's announcement comes a month after he said that a new full-size nuclear power station would be built at Wylfa on Anglesey meaning Wales is set to get two new nuclear plants. In his speech Mr Johnson told delegates at Theatr Hafren in Newtown: "I can tell you that we are looking to build a small modular reactor on the site at Trawsfynydd".
Rolls Royce has been developing plans for a new type of small modular nuclear power station. The advantage of the smaller reactors is that they can be built much more quickly and cheaply as the parts can be shipped by road. The site at Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, was formerly the site of a nuclear power station which became operational in 1965 and was decomissioned in 1991.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has to clean up the UK’s earliest nuclear sites safely, securely and cost-effectively and Cwmni Egino is a development company wholly owned by Welsh Government, established to drive future development at the Trawsfynydd site and to promote regional economic and social regeneration.
The NDA site at Trawsfynydd is home to a station which is being decommissioned by Magnox Ltd, a subsidiary of the NDA. The NDA also owns land outside the Magnox site boundary which could be used for a new nuclear development. Any formal commitment of NDA land, or other support, would require Government approval via NDA’s sponsoring department BEIS.
The agreement detailed today means the NDA will share information about the characteristics of the available land at the Trawsfynydd site, its decommissioning plans (to support schedule and work-force planning) and support Cwmni Egino in the development of its socio-economic plans.
It will also offer an opportunity for Cwmni Egino to engage with potential developers and technology providers who wish to participate in the development of the Trawsfynydd site. Cwmni Egino wants to confirm its outline business proposition within the year.
David Peattie, NDA CEO, said: “As well as delivering our mission, we’re committed to helping the Government in supporting its energy goals and our partnership with Cwmni Egino, around the potential future use of land at Trawsfynydd, is testament to our continued support of Government policy and our socio-economic obligations.”
Gwen Parry-Jones, Magnox Ltd CEO, said: "The formal collaboration between NDA and Cwmni Egino is fantastic news for Trawsfynydd and affirms our mission to safely clean-up the site for other uses. It also presents a significant opportunity to benefit the community around the site building on and utilising the world-leading skills and expertise of our nuclear workforce."
Alan Raymant, CEO of Cwmni Egino said: "Our relationship with NDA and Magnox is critical to the successful delivery of our vision for the development of new nuclear at Trawsfynydd. This collaboration agreement provides the foundation for a fruitful partnership that will bring benefits to the local community and help deliver the Energy Security Strategy".
UK Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Our ambition for a British nuclear renaissance means a bright future for nuclear power in Wales, not only securing clean, affordable, homegrown energy but also jobs and investment at sites like Trawsfynydd. We remain on track to realise our plan to approve eight new nuclear reactors by 2030, transforming the UK’s energy network and revitalizing decommissioned nuclear sites."
