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Ynys Môn MP wants ‘Great British Nuclear’ HQ to be in the north of Wales

20 Apr 2022 3 minute read
Virginia Crosbie, left, and Wylfa Power Station. Picture by Reading Tom (CC BY 2.0)

The MP for Ynys Môn has asked for the UK Government’s new body Great British Nuclear to be headquartered in the north of Wales.

The UK Government confirmed two weeks ago its intention to push ahead with a nuclear project at the Wylfa site on the island of Anglesey.

A new body, Great British Nuclear, will be launched to set up eight new reactors producing up to 24 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by 2050.

Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie, who has described herself as an ‘atomic kitten’, said in the House of Commons that Great British Nuclear should also be located in Wales.

“I am delighted that Wylfa is specifically included in the British energy security strategy, and I look forward to welcoming the Energy Minister to Ynys Môn in a few weeks,” she said.

“The new Wylfa nuclear plant will bring local jobs for local people. Will the Minister consider discounting electricity bills for locals, and locating the headquarters of the new Great British Nuclear vehicle in north Wales, in recognition of the nuclear expertise and heritage in the area?”

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng paid tribute to Virginia Crosbie’s lobbying for a new Wylfa on Anglesey.

“I think I would be getting a bit ahead of myself if I were to decide here and now at the Dispatch Box where that body will be sited,” he said.

“But I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s tireless and passionate advocacy for the nuclear industry. She, among a number of others in this Chamber, has been a brilliant champion, and I look forward to working with her to drive nuclear power in Wylfa and across the country.”

Egino

It was revealed yesterday that a second reactor in Wales, at Trawsfynydd, could also receive UK regulatory approval by mid-2024.

In an interview with Reuters, Paul Stein, chairman of Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors said the reactors will be able to produce power for the grid by 2029.

Rolls-Royce has secured £450m for the venture to build mini nuclear reactors and last year said that there was a “pretty high probability” Trawsfynydd could house the first reactor by the early 2030s.

Trawsfynydd is the site of the decommissioned Magnox nuclear power station that ran between 1965 and 1991.

Last year the Welsh Government appointed Mike Tynan, former head of UK operations at US nuclear engineering group Westinghouse, as the CEO of Cwmni Egino with the aim of resurrecting the Trawsfynydd site.

Wylfa on Anglesey had also been mentioned as a potential site for Rolls Royce SMR but last month was confirmed as the favoured location for the construction of new nuclear power station to be built two American companies, Westinghouse and Bechtel.


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The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

How does this benefit Ms Crosbie, shares? a seat on the board of directors in a few years? links with construction contracts? why doesn’t she get behind renewable energy?

Dr Jonathan F Dean
Dr Jonathan F Dean
2 years ago

Puzzle to me, considering the BP survey vessel is currently surveying the seabed for the Mona wind farm

Androw Bennett
Androw Bennett
2 years ago

Nuclear is a retrograde step. Why doesn’t she give support to wind and solar? Her fellow Tory, Kwasi Kwarteng, has apparently described wind turbines as “an eyesore”. If so, doesn’t he also see nuclear power stations as eyesores?

Llinos
Llinos
2 years ago
Reply to  Androw Bennett

Well they’ll make your eyes sore if you live near them for any length of time. Radiation poisoning will do a lot more besides. The studies of cancer clusters around Nuclear power stations are well known

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
2 years ago

How, I wonder, do we persuade Virginia Radiation Crosbie that using the sites to build renewable energy plant such as wave power machines, current turbines and wind turbines would also bring jobs to the areas around the old nuclear sites. The difference is that more of that money would stay in Wales since the renewables all use technolgies that can be built in Wales. Do we need to flood her with emails to point out the error of her ways?

Last edited 2 years ago by Peter Cuthbert
Neil Anderson
Neil Anderson
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Nuclear provides well-paid jobs but only quality risk-free jobs for the few located well away from the reactors – admin, managerial etc. Renewable energy provides high quality jobs at all levels, and at much lower cost per job. Nuclear does not make economic sense, and cannot escape its dangerous legacy of waste. Virginia Crosbie is probably not as interested in nuclear jobs though, except in the boardroom. Her main objective is pre-emptive – to halt independence. Those who seek real independence for Cymru should stand against the nuclear menace – in local and national elections, in our communities – and… Read more »

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
2 years ago
Reply to  Neil Anderson

Absolutely !!!

Huw P;rys Jones
Huw P;rys Jones
2 years ago

It may be perfectly understandable for a UK unionist politician wanting to promote Great British Nuclear in Wales. What would be perverse however would be to see any politicians committed to Welsh independence going along with such an agenda. Surely Wales already produces more than enough power for its own needs in any case. At the same time, it is also clear that nuclear power is the wrong solution for unionists and separatists alike. Whilst our politicians are desperately seeking 20th century solutions to our future energy needs, renewable technology is making nuclear power increasingly futile. As this newspaper article… Read more »

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
2 years ago

Absolutely !!! There is a strong case against nuclear power on economic grounds, as well. Wind farms are quicker to construct, cheaper and pay for themselves within 22 years. Renewable power generation companies are doing well. Nuclear power companies are losing money. Centrica plc is now dumping their nuclear interests as its pulled down their share price below the IPO launch. The problem is the UK has always been picking failures – I’m afraid. Rolls-Royce had its chance to invest in renewable energy manufacturing – It failed. Europe did invest – That is why Vesta Wind Systems is based in… Read more »

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

I am not philosophically against these new nukes but why site one capable of powering a million homes on an island with around 30,000 households when the demand is 120 miles away in Lancashire?
Of course the costs of burying 400 kV transmission lines at £5Bn/km make it economic folly as well as the fact that Wales already exports electricity make the business case a farce but these are Tories after all.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

When I hear “National Grid” mentioned makes me shudder.

Lyn [Mr] Jenkins
Lyn [Mr] Jenkins
1 year ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Make no mistake!! ALL wind turbines erected in Wales are powering ENGLAND. Pembroke CCGT gas fired power station generates 2200MW in the EXTREME WEST OF WALES!! Wales only uses 1598MW on average!!

Divide 14 terrawatthours by the number of hours in a year!!

Llinos
Llinos
2 years ago

Unionist Tory wants to block independence by forcing stupid unwanted unionist invention with stupid name on Cymru

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
2 years ago

If Marine Le Pen wins in France she has promised 20 more Nuclear Reactors also Le Pen has promised to pull down existing Wind Turbines.However according to The opinion polls She still has some ground to make up on Macron.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago
Reply to  Johnny Gamble

Le Pen is trying this time the softy softly route after years of using the bare knuckle approach. She’s the political equiverlent of putting a thug in a suit to attend a court hearing. See, you can sugarcoat a turd but it’s still a turd underneath.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

A Great British Nuclear HQ. What, does she mean stick all the Nuclear plants in Mam Cymru? Duw, this toxic woman will do anything to keep her seat.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

“Atomic kitten” my foot, dead cat more like. Cymru as a nation does not need to build nuclear power stations, as we can produce enough to meet our needs without them. If there is a need for them in England, then they should proceed and build them in England.

Last edited 2 years ago by Gareth
Lyn Thomas
Lyn Thomas
2 years ago

Many years ago Cynog Dafis pointed out what a boost to manufacturing the making of the blades for the turbines and the towers on which they are fixed would be. We have skills at Braughton for making aircraft wings, the skills are transferable for making blades…. manufacturing the turbines and all part of the windmills would be a huge advantage a number of depressed areas.

Lyn [Mr] Jenkins
Lyn [Mr] Jenkins
1 year ago
Reply to  Lyn Thomas

Don’t agree! Look at the UK wind energy graph on Gridwatch.co.uk. Wind is extremely intermittent. Its graph resembles STALAGMITES……….SO HOW ON EARTH CAN WIND BE ACTUALLY POWERING ANYTHING WITHOUT 24/7 BACKING FROM FOSSIL FUEL POWER STATIONS???

Tim
Tim
2 years ago

Excellent idea

Dr Jonathan F Dean
Dr Jonathan F Dean
2 years ago

The new energy strategy only commits to Wylfa being considered, next year, along with all the other currently approved nuclear sites. It does not commit to it actually being selected

Trawsfynydd currently isn’t an approved site, and Rolls Royce are undergoing the Generic Design Assessment. That is not approval to build anything

Currently neither site has any project associated with it

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