Exclusive:Mothballed nuclear site 'could still be revived' if SNP drops 'ideological block', says energy minister
Michael Shanks says Hunterston B’s move into public ownership for decommissioning marks ‘end of an era’
A nuclear power station that has now been taken into public ownership for decommissioning could yet be revived with a new reactor if the SNP lifts its “ideological block” to the form of energy.
Michael Shanks, the UK government’s energy minister, told Scotland on Sunday he “wants Scotland to have a nuclear power future” - despite the move last week to begin the process of mothballing Hunterston B in North Ayrshire.
The power station stopped generating electricity in 2022 and has been defuelling its nuclear reactors since then.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband notified MPs on Tuesday that he had issued a direction to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority that opened the formal process for the site to be transferred to public ownership, signalling the start of the decommissioning process.
Mr Shanks, who is originally from Ayrshire, said the move marked “the end of an era”, while industry chiefs said it “does not need to be the end of the road for new nuclear” at the site.
Mr Shanks, MP for Rutherglen, said: “This marks the end of an era for Hunterston B, but we want Scotland to have a nuclear power future.
“This UK Government is delivering a new golden age of nuclear in the UK - with over 11,000 new jobs in nuclear last year, greenlighting Sizewell C and launching new small modular reactors in Wales.”
He added: “The SNP’s continued ideological block on nuclear power risks Scotland’s future energy security and abandons the opportunity for thousands of good, well paid jobs across the country.
“The UK Government stands ready to consider sites in Scotland for new small modular reactors, and the jobs that go with them, but only if a new Scottish Labour government led by Anas Sarwar is elected in May that recognises the enormous opportunity Scotland is currently missing out on.
“That is why we have commissioned Great British Energy-Nuclear to assess Scotland’s potential for new nuclear power, including around areas that have previously hosted nuclear stations, such as in Ayrshire."
Around 250 jobs at Hunterston B will move from owners EDF Energy to the Nuclear Restoration Services.
The power station, around six miles south of Largs, operated from 1976 to 2022 and supported thousands of jobs.
Since the site ceased generation, Scotland’s civil nuclear capability has been limited to Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian. This is due to remain operational until 2030.
There is no new nuclear is planned in Scotland because the Scottish Government - which holds planning powers - has effectively banned it.
But south of the Border the UK government has plans for new nuclear through Sizewell C in Suffolk and the country’s first small modular reactors in North Wales.
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Tom Greatrex, Nuclear Industry Association CEO, said: “This does not need to be the end of the road for new nuclear at Hunterston.
“If the Scottish Government was serious about clean power and jobs it would be championing new projects instead of blocking them, closing the door on good jobs and investment because of ideology.
“Scottish workers deserve the same opportunity workers in England and Wales are getting at nuclear projects there.”
Mr Shanks has previously said the UK government would like to host small new nuclear reactors at both Hunterston and Torness.
Last year Mr Miliband said he was seeking to identify suitable sites across the UK that could host another large-scale nuclear project, including in Scotland.
However, SNP Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “The Scottish Government does not support the creation of new nuclear reactors under current technologies in Scotland.
“Instead, we are focused on supporting the development of Scotland’s immense renewable energy potential – which provide more jobs, are faster to deliver, are safer, and more cost effective than the creation of new nuclear reactors.
“Significant growth in renewables is providing key opportunities for our future energy workforce in Scotland, with independent scenarios from Ernst and Young (EY) showing that with the right support, Scotland's low carbon and renewable energy sector could support nearly 80,000 jobs by 2050. ”
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