SNP under fire for 'flip-flop' on nuclear as plant retained

THE SNP-led Scottish Government came under attack on two fronts over nuclear power yesterday, following the announcement that the reactor at Hunterston is to carry on operating for a further five years.

British Energy, which is based in Livingston, said the working lives of Hunterston B in Ayrshire and Hinkley Point B in Somerset would be extended by five years to 2016, and claimed this would help to fill a potential shortfall in electricity supplies and trumpeting its green credentials.

While the SNP welcomed the news, the Liberal Democrats accused the Scottish Government of "flip-flopping" over the morality of nuclear power, while the Scottish Greens said the move was "dangerous, unsustainable and uneconomic".

The Labour-controlled Scotland Office used the situation to attack the SNP over its opposition to new nuclear power stations being built, saying it now had to explain how Scotland could live without this "reliable, low-carbon energy source".

British Energy said it would spend £90 million on the two power stations, which opened in 1976, to extend their lifespan, and would also look at operating them beyond 2016.

Hunterston, which has been cleared by safety inspectors to run until 2017, was hit by technical problems last year and, as a result, is producing about 60 per cent of the power it is capable of delivering. Work will be carried out to raise this to 70 per cent.

Bill Coley, chief executive of British Energy, said: "This decision is important in supporting the UK's goals for the reduction of emissions. Life extension helps provide support as the country considers energy conservation, efficiency and investment in new generating plant of all types, to serve the needs of the UK into the next century."

British Energy said Hunterston employs around 520 full-time staff and 150 contractors, contributes £55 million a year to the local economy and had offset 140 million tonnes of carbon dioxide during its working life.

The extra five years of operation would save a total of 20 million tonnes of compared to producing the same amount of electricity using coal, the company claimed.

David Cairns, the Scotland Office minister, said the move "underlines the vital role of nuclear power", adding: "The challenge the [Scottish Government] faces is explaining how we keep the lights on without this reliable, low-carbon energy source."

Jim Mather, the energy minister, said:

"[British Energy] will have to invest significantly at Hunterston to ensure it is safe and reliable, and that has to be in Scotland's interests.

"There is more than enough green and renewable potential in Scotland to provide a low- carbon electricity supply, so the argument that we need nuclear is totally redundant. It [was] always understood that existing nuclear power stations continue until the end of their lifecycle."

Liam McArthur, the Scottish Lib Dems' energy spokesman, said: "Mike Weir, the SNP's [Westminster] energy spokesman, said opposition to nuclear power was a 'question of morality'. In opposition, the SNP were crystal clear. In government, they flip-flopped on the 'morality' and whether it is in Scotland's interests."

Patrick Harvie, of the Scottish Green Party, added: "Spending millions more to patch up decrepit nuclear power stations is just throwing good money after bad.

Nuclear power remains dangerous, unsustainable, and uneconomic."