Eon Delay Decision on Oldbury Power Station

Eon/RWE annouce plans to delay Oldbury


Eon/Rwe have today issued an announcement (see below) that they plan to delay building the site at Shepperdine nr Oldbury and start Wylfa first. Clearly they have at long last recognised the problems with their massive scale proposal for Oldbury eg the lack of suitable cooling, the fact that its in a high risk flood zone (making storage of highly toxic waste on site even more ridiculous)... the list goes on (see our response to the NPS posted in February).

We are absolutely delighted to hear the news that Oldbury is not now being rushed out.

However, we are now left with a long period of uncertainty if it remains nominated in the NPS when/if it is designated. It feels like, being on death row but having a stay of execution until the hangman has been properly trained.

We must now hope that DECC will listen to our objections and those of the local parish councils and south glos council and SEE THE LIGHT! Oldbury should not be nominated in the NPS when/if it is designated keep watching this space ..............





We have uploaded the following press release at the request of Eons PR company :-

Dear Reg


As per my message on your mobile please see Oldbury press release distributed today, we would be very grateful if you could post this on your blog.

Kind regards

Samantha Stagg
James Reed PR
82-84 Queens Road
Clifton
Bristol
BS8 1QU
Tel: 0117 929 0405




Horizon Nuclear Power outlines timetable for Oldbury







TUESDAY 30 MARCH 2010



Horizon Nuclear Power today outlined its development timetable for the delivery of around 3,300MW of new nuclear power generation at Oldbury on Severn by 2025.



The company, a joint venture between E.ON UK and RWE npower, has announced that it intends submit a planning application for the new plant at Oldbury in 2014. Given the right market conditions, preliminary works could begin in 2016, followed by main construction in 2019.



Tim Proudler, Horizon Nuclear Power’s Planning and Consents Manager for Oldbury said: “We are confident that the Oldbury site meets all of the criteria set out by the Government as part of its Strategic Siting Assessment (SSA) for new nuclear development, including the requirement to be operational by 2025.



“Our development plans would help cement the area’s reputation as a centre of nuclear excellence, and bring long-term economic benefits to the region.



“Wylfa and Oldbury are both strong sites but once we decided a phased approach was sensible we needed to make a choice on which to build first. We would like to make use of the additional time at Oldbury to work with our key stakeholders and the public to develop our ideas further – particularly in areas such as flood protection measures, the cooling system and transport options.



“After that we would begin the full Environmental Impact Assessment work, prior to submitting a planning application. The new timeline will also allow us to work closely with local people and ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to have their say as our plans develop.”



Generating low-carbon electricity for millions of homes, the proposed new plant would be built on land adjacent to the existing Magnox station at Oldbury which is due to stop generating electricity in 2011. Horizon Nuclear Power’s new plant could create up to 800 permanent high quality jobs, rising to 1,000 during maintenance periods and around 5,000 during construction.



As well as Oldbury, Horizon Nuclear Power is seeking to develop a 3,300MW nuclear station at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales. In total, the company aims to develop around 6,000MW of new low carbon nuclear capacity by 2025. Applications for planning consent at Wylfa will be made in 2012 and Horizon Nuclear Power could have its first reactor to be generating electricity from 2020.



The company is taking a phased approach to development across its two sites to focus resources and expertise and share knowledge between sites.



As part of this staggered process, Horizon will continue formal discussions with both Westinghouse and Areva, the two firms seeking licences for their nuclear reactors in the UK. It plans to select a preferred vendor for its Wylfa site and the end of this year.



ENDS

Media enquiries:



For more information, please contact the Horizon Nuclear Power press office on 01242 713 677 or Leon Flexman, Head of Communications at Horizon Nuclear Power on 01242 713 615. email: leon.flexman@npower.com



Notes to editors



Horizon Nuclear Power Ltd, the joint venture established by E.ON UK and RWE npower, is developing proposals for a new nuclear power station at Oldbury.



The company is working to deliver around 6,000MW of new nuclear capacity in the UK by 2025. It has secured land at Oldbury in South Gloucestershire and at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales.



Horizon Nuclear Power’s £15bn investment programme in new nuclear build could create up to 11,000 jobs across both sites during construction and supply the energy needs of the city the size of Greater London.



Our shareholders have interests in 23 nuclear power stations in Germany and Sweden and jointly own three stations in Germany.



Both the Oldbury and Wylfa sites were included in a list of proposed sites suitable for new nuclear development within a draft Nuclear National Policy Statement. The consultation closed on 22nd February 2010 and the Government hopes to finalise the list later this year.