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No nuclear plans for Hoo Peninsula, says E.ON
The current Kingsnorth power plant
Energy giant E.ON has denied reports that it plans to build two nuclear power stations on Hoo Peninsula.

Company bosses reacted angrily to a report in The Times today which said the German utility was looking at using its existing oil-fired power station on the Isle of Grain, near Sheerness, and its coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth, as sites for new nuclear reactors.

The national newspaper says E.ON favour the Isle of Grain as a “stronger candidate” for a nuclear plant because it lies on the coast and is “relatively far” from large population centres.

It was also said to be considering Kingsnorth as a possible site due to the public outcry at plans to build the UK’s first new coal-fired power plant for 20 years there.

But a company spokesman today dismissed the report, saying: “We have no plans whatsoever to build nuclear reactors on these sites.”

He said E.ON is committed to building a new oil-fired power station on the Isle of Grain, near Sheerness, on which work is underway, and a new generation coal-fired plant at Kingsnorth.

The existing oil-fired station on Grain and the coal-fired plant at Kingsnorth are due to be replaced by 2010 and 2013 respectively.

A new combined heat and power plant is already under construction at Grain and a ‘clean coal’ fired plant is planned for Kingsnorth - pending Government approval.

The E.ON spokesman stressed that the power supplier had not submitted planning applications for nuclear reactors at the sites.

He said: “I cannot tell you what could happen in 20 or 30 years time, but we have no plans whatsoever to build nuclear reactors on these sites at this time.

“The oil and coal power stations planned will produce power for all of Kent and part of London, areas that have huge power needs.”

E.ON said last month that it wanted to build two new nuclear reactors in Britain using French technology from Areva – but is looking at using existing nuclear sites owned by British Energy or the Government through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

A deadline for nominating proposed nuclear sites has been set for this autumn by the Government  and public consultation will then start next spring.

Steve Dawe, of the Kent Green Party, condemned suggestions of nuclear development, saying there is far too much speculation surrounding the location of these new sites.

He said: “They do own the land at the sites already and it would be much easier and cheaper for them if they were to build there.

“Dungeness by contrast would be far too expensive, and difficult to update and replace its infrastructure”.


POSTED: 20/05/2008 15:53:48

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