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Future of Moorside nuclear power plant thrown into doubt

The future of a multi-billion-pound nuclear power development in West Cumbrian has been thrown into doubt by the company behind the plans.

It had been hoped Moorside would bring more than 20,000 jobs to the region.

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Prime Minister 'committed' to Moorside nuclear deal

Prime Minister Theresa May responding in the House of Commons. Credit: PA

The Prime Minister has said the government is "committed" to ensuring the potential Moorside nuclear development in Cumbria goes ahead.

Theresa May was responding to an urgent question asked in Parliament by Cumbrian MP John Woodcock.

He asked her what she was doing to safeguard the deal, which has been thrown into question after the company behind the plans - Toshiba - announced it was reviewing its nuclear operations.

It is hoped the £10 billion development will bring 21,000 jobs to Cumbria.

I and the Business Secretary are involved and are keen to see these nuclear deals stay on track.

I can assure you the Government's commitment is there.

– Theresa May, Prime Minister

Toshiba's nuclear review 'huge development'

Paul Dorfman. Credit: Paul Dorfman Twitter

Toshiba's review of its nuclear projects, including the proposed Moorside power plant in Cumbria, is a "huge development" according to a nuclear expert.

Paul Dorfman, Founder of the Nuclear Consulting Group, told ITV Border he thinks the company will definitely pull out of the £10 billion project, which it's hoped will bring 21,000 jobs to Cumbria.

This is a huge development. NuGen is what Moorside is all about. There is no question that they are pulling out of Moorside. It all comes down to the realities of nuclear economics. ENGIE are also worried about the cost of Moorside. The government is in talks with a South Korean company KEPCO but there is also doubt as to how interested they are in investing in Moorside.

– Paul Dorfman Founder of the Nuclear Consulting Group, Honorary Senior Research Fellow UCL Energy Institute

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Doubts raised over Moorside nuclear development

The proposed development has been thrown into doubt. Credit: NuGen

The development of a new nuclear power plant in west Cumbria, which could bring 21,000 jobs to the region, has been thrown into doubt.

Toshiba has a 60 percent stake in NuGen, the company behind the planned Moorside development.

But last week, the Japanese company is reported to have said it's reviewing all nuclear power projects outside Japan, including Moorside.

Last month, the company said it might have to write off several billion dollars because of the purchase of CB&I Stone & Webster by Westinghouse, Toshiba's US subsidiary.

Cumbrian MP John Woodcock is to seek an urgent statement in Parliament on Wednesday following the news, which he's described as "alarming".

The government need to provide urgent assurances that they are doing everything within their power to ensure there are no problems with this project and that it will go ahead as planned.

That includes reviewing the reckless decision to pull out of the Euratom nuclear authority, and making it clear that they will not make decisions in our Brexit negotiations that will imperil the future of our nuclear industry.

– John Woodcock MP, Labour
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