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Boris Johnson announces plans to build new nuclear reactor at Trawsfynydd in conference speech

20 May 2022 4 minute read
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Picture by Annika Haas (CC BY 2.0). Trawsfynydd nuclear power station across the lake. Picture by William M. Connolley (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Boris Johnson has used his speech at the Welsh Conservative party conference to announce that a new nuclear reactor will be coming to Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd.

“Today I can tell you that we’re looking to build another small modular reactor on the site at Trawsfynydd,” he said, describing it as “fantastic news”.

It comes after the UK Government confirmed last month its intention to push ahead with a nuclear project at the Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey.

Trawsfynydd is already the site of one Magnox nuclear power station that was decommissioned in 1991.

‘Ambition’

The reactor at Trawsfynydd will be built as part of a partnership between the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the Welsh Government’s Cwmni Egino.

Welsh Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething said: “The Welsh Government established Cwmni Egino to ensure that the full potential of the Trawsfynydd site could be realised, helping to boost the economy of the wider area.

“I’m pleased to see this further development with the cooperation with the NDA, which is good news for the site.”

In a statement following the announcement, 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.”

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 Magnox station which is being decommissioned by Magnox Ltd, a subsidiary of the NDA.

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.”

‘Insult’

Dylan Morgan from People Against Wylfa B (PAWB) responded to the announcement to say that Boris Johnson was just “shooting from the hip”.

“All his bluster about possible new nuclear reactors displays an astounding level of economic and environmental illiteracy,” he said.

“Firstly, where is the strong economy coming out of Covid and post Brexit? No nuclear companies will go it alone and invest heavily in building new nuclear reactors.

“As in the case of Rolls Royce and their modular reactor which isn’t small at all at 475 MW, bigger than the old Magnox reactors at Trawsfynydd, they want government public handouts for designing the reactors, more astronomic handouts financed through our already vastly inflated electricity bills to construct these radiotoxic monstrosities, and then even more handouts for an agreed price for electricity produced, and last but not at all least, the massive decommissioning costs over thousands of years of reactors and all the problems with storage of hazardous nuclear wastes.

“There is little wonder that no corporations have come forward in droves to get a nuclear renaissance much promised from the Blair/Brown era going.

“Labelling Wylfa and Trawsfynydd as possible new sites for this most dangerous, dirty, radiotoxic, health-threatening and expensive technology is an insult to the people of Wales.

“It is the totally wrong path to tread and it may be the case that Johnson will not be in office for too long to realise his madcap nuclear ambitions.”


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Cynan
Cynan
1 year ago

Oh thank goodness for that! Boris said it will definitely be built.
Which means it definitely will NOT be built.
The lead-in time on these things are years. By the time we reach the go/no-go decision this lying lummox will be long gone and hopefully there will be grown-ups back in charge

Marc
Marc
1 year ago
Reply to  Cynan

Hopefully the lying lummox will be encased in concrete until his toxicity diminishes

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
1 year ago

I emailed my MP about this as the funds for this are coming, partly, from Qatar – a known funder of Islamist terrorists, which I find very disturbing. I have now received a reply from the Westminster Energy dept. Nation.Cymru, email me if you would like me to forward it to you.

Last edited 1 year ago by Mr Williams
Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

More lies & spin from Boris Johnson. I like the caveat that was put alongside his announcement made today at the Tory party rally. “This isn’t a government guarantee that this Modular Reactor at Trawsfyndd will be built” quote-on-quote. Very ominous. With that being said. If we take bungling Boris’s word for it. And seeing how the Tories promised Wales we’d not lose one penny of our once EU money with the Shared Prosperity fund, or his promise to unblock the nostrils of the dragon with Brynglas Tunnels infrastructure build made over 3yrs ago, it’s highly likely that I’ll step… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Y Cymro
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Yesterday, fishermen were trying their luck on a placid Llyn Traws, I doubt today’s news will cause a single ripple…

Fat Shanks Johnson will reach Critical Mass long before a single atom is split is the view from the lakeside cafe…

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

Will the hazardous waste it will produce be buried under the westminster parliament? Will the massive clean up costs when its decommissioned be payed by the british treasury? Safe to assume the answer to both those questions is a big NO! Trouble is under the present devolution settlement we in Wales are powerless to stop this outrage – we are still just a colony! If youre not indy Wales yet this scandalous announcement means you should be!!

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
Iago Humphrys
Iago Humphrys
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Oh gosh, sorry to have nicked your idea!

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago
Reply to  Iago Humphrys

Hey great minds think alike lago 😉

Popsie
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

You can’t possibly have read the article. It says the company is owned by the Welsh government.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
1 year ago
Reply to  Popsie

I doubt if the WG had any choice in whether this reactor is built in this country or not. That being so, it’s better if the Senedd has at least some control over it.

Cynan
Cynan
1 year ago
Reply to  Popsie

What? The NDA? No it’s not! If this were a Welsh Government project, why is Fat Shanks wobbling his jowls about it?

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago
Reply to  Popsie

Its a fact that the senedd doesnt have any powers over big energy projects like this. Even If every senedd member was against it theres nothing the Welsh parliament can do to stop ‘Governor General’ Johnson going ahead with his crazy plans….seriously how much has changed since Tryweryn? 😢

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

Sadly I suspect that the Welsh gov in the Bay will go along with this nonsense just because it will keep a lot of people busy for a good while. Their industrial strategy is “turn nothing away” despite all the talk about a need to transform the country into a smart economy with impeccable green credentials. Makes me want to throw up.

Iago Humphrys
Iago Humphrys
1 year ago

The waste to be cemented beneath the Commons, nay Lords. As Guy Fawkes would have wished.

Arwyn
Arwyn
1 year ago

So, once again decisions are being made FOR Wales, not even WITH Wales. Heaven forbid decisions like this might be made BY Wales! And by what mandate does Johnson make this decision? By his whopping majority of Welsh MP’s? Thought not. He probably thinks this is a vote winner. He might be right. He might even think it helps the UK energy strategy. What it doesn’t do, is very much good for Wales at all. Oh, some right wingers will bleat on about jobs as if there were no other investments or job creation possible in Wales. No, what Wales… Read more »

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
1 year ago

Nuclear is un-economic. There is no case for it. It will also increase our already high fuel bills. NO NUCLEAR HERE !! What will we do with the nuclear waste ? Wales has much windy weather, even in May – Lets make good use of it. Onshore and offshore wind farms are the best prospect for Wales’ energy needs. It can be operation in the quickest time and are cheaper to maintain. We also have suitable coastline with climate good for tidal & wave power. These nuclear vanity projects are actually a UK Tory policy to reduce the devolution, decision… Read more »

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
1 year ago

This UK lot have a cheek.
Treating us like this and not giving our Welsh parliament any opportunity to present an alternative vision for Wales.

Quornby
Quornby
1 year ago

Wales has all the power we need, most of which is filched to England’s benefit. So build your nukes somewhere in Surrey.

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