Scotland left off new nuclear map

THE building of new nuclear power plants in Scotland has been effectively ruled out by one of the UK's leading electricity providers.

British Energy has described Scotland as "the least attractive part of the UK" to base a new station following the election victory of the anti-nuclear power SNP.

The firm is the UK's biggest provider of nuclear power and its statement makes it almost certain no new plants will be built north of the Border.

The move comes as a new white paper on energy, which is expected to lay the foundations for more UK nuclear power, is to be published by ministers in Westminster this week.

Trade and Industry Minister Alistair Darling warned yesterday about "the lights going out" if energy plants in the UK were not renewed.

However, the SNP government has said it is committed to blocking any new nuclear stations in Scotland. Under the terms of devolution, it has the power to withhold planning permission for new stations, even though energy policy is reserved by Westminster.

Currently, Scotland has two working nuclear power stations: Torness in East Lothian, and Hunterston in Ayrshire. They are expected to close in 2010 and 2023 respectively.

A decision must be made soon on replacements, but it is clear that the main producers who will decide where to build have now put Scotland at the bottom of their list.

A spokeswoman for British Energy said: "When we get to the point of deciding, Scotland is the least attractive part of the UK to have a nuclear power station now."

The high costs of transmitting energy from Scotland to England are said to be one factor, but the fact that the new Scottish Executive is opposed to nuclear power has now practically ruled out the plans altogether.

The move comes as the cooling towers at the old Chapelcross nuclear power station, near Annan, are due to be demolished today.

While ministers north of the Border insist Hunterston and Torness will follow, Labour chiefs at Westminster insist nuclear power must be an option.

The SNP's opposition to nuclear power prompted warnings from Labour MPs last night that Scotland would struggle to power homes and businesses.

Currently, 38% of the country's electricity is nuclear.

Scots Labour MP Michael Connarty said: "One expert I listened to profiled the longest period that they could foresee Scotland surviving, even with the growth of wind power, without having to cut off the electricity or switch off the lights. It would be 16 years without nuclear."

In an indication of the ill-feeling that could follow if Scotland refused to play a full role in a nationwide energy strategy, a spokesman for the Department of Trade & Industry said: "Scotland and the rest of the UK are on one electricity network now. Issues of climate change and security of supply apply to Scottish people as much as the rest of the UK."

However, First Minister Alex Salmond is insistent that Scotland can meet carbon reduction targets by greatly expanding its renewable sector and by pioneering techniques such as clean coal technology and carbon capture.

Last week he visited Scotland's two coal-fired power stations to investigate proposals that they could be converted to clean coal technology under £1.5bn plans by ScottishPower.

Industry experts said that market forces would probably stop nuclear energy coming to Scotland, regardless of the political situation.

Simon James, of the Nuclear Industry Association, the trade group for the nuclear industry, said firms were "relaxed" about the implications of Scottish hostility towards their business.

He said: "The likelihood is that the demand for new nuclear power will be much more in the southeast of England than anywhere else."

He added: "There is space to build, there is a great connection to the network - and the political conditions are much more favourable than in Scotland."

Chapelcross demolition pulls the plug
The demolition of Chapelcross nuclear station this morning will bring to an end 48 years of power generation at the huge plant.

Built on a former Second World War airfield, the station has dominated the skyline around the Dumfriesshire town of Annan since 1959, when it began operating as Scotland's first nuclear power station.

The station's four 300ft-high cooling towers are visible from three counties: Dumfriesshire, Cumbria and Northumberland.

The plant also produces weapons-grade plutonium for the UK's nuclear weapons programme. But its main purpose has been to generate electricity for the National Grid.

The station has sustained the local economy over the years, offering well-paid jobs to hundreds of workers.

It has largely escaped the notoriety of other nuclear centres such as Sellafield and Dounreay. Only one serious accident took place, in 1967, when a partial meltdown knocked out one of the reactors for two years.

The reactors were closed down in 2004, beginning the decades-long process of clearing the site. Radioactive material will be taken to Sellafield for reprocessing. By 2030, it is hoped the area will become a greenfield site, leaving little memory of its industrial past.

An exclusion zone has been erected today for the demolition, which is expected to last just 10 seconds. It will be shown live at www.chapelcrosscoolingtowers.com