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Jennifer Richards, MD,  Hydrock NMCL

The case for nuclear safety

Following EDF’s commitment to build nuclear UK plants last week Jennifer Richards argues that the UK should create ‘clarity’ for  developers on what are currently our ‘aspirational and goal setting’ nuclear safety standards.

With a 20-year gap since the last active new build in nuclear power in the UK, the knowledge, innovation and investment in civil nuclear reactor design is now led from countries such as France, the US, Canada, Japan and the fast-emerging Chinese market.

"We should be proud of our culture of ‘challenge’ where the ‘what if’ questions are constantly posed."

Investing in the UK nuclear market presents challenges to overseas companies, not least the need to comply with our well-established safety standards. Although detailed guidance exists on UK expectations, much ‘custom and practice’ has been developed which is often difficult for new investors and developers from outside the UK to understand and apply.

This situation presents a challenge. On the one hand, in view of the changing global landscape, is it right for the UK to stick to its current approach to nuclear safety regulation which was developed when our nuclear industry had a very different structure? Some argue that these standards are holding back much needed investment in new nuclear power. However, on the other hand, our ‘gold standard’ and high level safety principles are respected and offer the UK a means to rediscover the skills to develop nuclear technology. Through detailed safety assessment of new foreign-backed designs, British nuclear engineers can learn from others and the UK can become an ‘intelligent customer’ for the latest nuclear reactor technologies. 

First and foremost, the public, regulators and government rightly expect rigour and substantiation of nuclear industry plant and processes. Our approach to nuclear safety standards has served us well. We should be proud of our culture of ‘challenge’ where the ‘what if’ questions are constantly posed.

"Much ‘custom and practice’ has been developed which is often difficult for new investors and developers from outside the UK to understand and apply."

However, given our reliance on foreign investment and ownership, international developers find it challenging to navigate our specific requirements. Our safety standards are absolutely appropriate, and we should not adopt some ‘give and take’ to hasten through this much needed foreign-investment. However, our standards are goal-setting and non-prescriptive. In this new global market, arguably we need to offer more clarity to international developers on how to become compliant and how to work in a UK context.

Enabling the transfer of new technology to invigorate a safe UK programme of nuclear new build allows the UK to gain experience of what best practice design looks like which will inspire our own contribution to the future of nuclear new build.

The case for nuclear safety is as important today as it has ever been, especially for its role in enabling the development of critical, future low-carbon power generation.  

Jennifer Richards is managing director, Hydrock NMCL