LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Boris Johnson is holding a summit with nuclear sector executives in an attempt to lessen the UK’s reliance on Russian oil and gas imports.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he is meeting with industry leaders to prepare huge bets on nuclear power in an attempt to reduce fuel bills of households by increasing nuclear output.
The Downing Street meeting comes after Prime Minister Johnson outlined plans for a massive nuclear power development during his speech at the Conservative Party’s spring conference over the weekend.
He declared, taking bold steps was necessary to end the UK’s reliance on oil and gas from Russia. That’s exactly what they were doing. It was time to reclaim control of its energy supplies.
And, rather than importing high-priced hydrocarbons from overseas and depositing the money in Putin’s bank account, they’d make greater use of their own hydrocarbons that occur naturally.
“We’re going to make some bets on nuclear power, substantial bets on nuclear power, not only massive projects, but tiny modular reactors,” he continued.
“And we’re going to exploit the booster rollout’s bull-at-a-gate attitude to install additional offshore wind.”
The PM and power executives will discuss “how government and industry can work together to eliminate bottlenecks and advance future nuclear projects in the UK more rapidly and affordably,” according to Number 10.
Number 10 claims the Downing Street meeting is the next phase in the government’s interaction with business leaders ahead of the release of the British Energy Security Strategy later this month.
As the UK turns away from hydrocarbons from Russia and foreign fossil fuels, the PM claims that nuclear – from tiny modular reactors to larger power plants – can increase energy security and independence.
Nuclear power, which currently accounts for roughly 15% of UK electricity generation, “provides a safe, clean, and stable energy source” as part of the country’s energy mix, according to the government.
The PM will meet with nuclear industry CEOs as well as apprentices to learn how they are building the skills and competence required as part of the UK’s energy transition.
Following the Downing Street summit, Helen Whately, Treasury Minister, will host a roundtable discussion with oil and gas lenders to discuss North Sea investment.
She’ll meet with technical banks that lend to UK-based oil and gas businesses, emphasising the government’s commitment to local offshore oil and gas production.
According to Downing Street, the prime minister will meet with executives from the wind industry in the coming days, which he claims is another UK success story in generating green, domestic energy.
With a contentious visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week, the Prime Minister began his campaign to lessen the UK’s reliance on Russian oil and gas, just days after the Saudis carried out 81 executions.
