Tees companies welcome nuclear power expansion

Mar 27 2008 Evening Gazette

TEES engineering companies have welcomed Business Secretary John Hutton’s claim that Britain must "significantly expand" its nuclear power production for the sake of national security and combating climate change.

Yesterday Mr Hutton called for the UK to become a world leader in developing nuclear technology - creating a £20bn industry with 100,000 jobs - and Tees firms believe this will provide a host of opportunities for local companies.

John Padbury, sales and marketing director of Stillington-based Darchem Engineering, welcomed the news but said it would take time to develop a £20bn industry.

He said: "The building of nuclear reactors will create a supporting supply chain of UK companies. Teesside has the right skills to capitalise on this."

Darchem provides insulation systems for nuclear reactors in France, which relies on nuclear energy to provide around four-fifths of its overall energy.

Nuclear power is high on the agenda in current discussions between French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who is visiting the UK, and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Union Unite has backed Mr Hutton’s call but urged government and the nuclear regulator to licence "global designs", set at an international standard, for new sites in the UK. It said such a system would prove that it was safe for business to invest in new facilities, new product designs, training and jobs. If international standards were applied there was also massive export potential, it added.