The Government's decision to proceed with a programme of nuclear power stations within the UK was today welcomed by the trade unions led Keep our Future Afloat Campaign.
Councillor Terry Waiting, Chairman of the Campaign and UNITE (Amicus) member said today:-
"There are some tremendous nuclear skills located in Britain at places like Barrow in Furness and Rolls Royce in Derby".
He went on to say:-
"The UK's nuclear submarine programme sustains a unique reservoir of world class nuclear expertise that has developed innovative, cost effective ways of manufacturing, testing and commissioning affordable nuclear power plants that operate to the very highest safety standards. We believe this resource base with its project management, radiological protection, power control, design, safety case and commissioning capability can be readily adapted to also help the UK fast track civil nuclear power development and thereby ensure the UK's security of energy supply".
Councillor Waiting concluded:-
"Britain's naval shipyards have the capability to design, build and integrate modular systems required in today’s nuclear power stations, they could also be floated out to their required destination. This would help sustain key naval shipbuilding skills, promote technology transfer and enable the UK to develop an indigenous civil nuclear engineering capability instead of the work coming in from overseas suppliers”.
KOFAC will be exploring ways to attract key elements of the industry to Barrow, and promoting the brand new docklands Waterfront Barrow in Furness Business Park and Associated British Ports owned port of Barrow as the north west of England's hub for this type of work.
Notes for Editors:
1. KOFAC was set up in April 2004 to secure the long term future of naval shipyards and shipyard employment in NW England and to lobby Government for a sustained programme of naval orders. It also promotes opportunities for diversification into other areas such as the nuclear sector – see also www.navalshipbuilding.co.uk
