Britain approves first of eight new nuclear power plants to tackle energy crisis

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce approval for funding for the first of eight new nuclear power plants in the UK this Thursday. The aim is to strengthen the country’s energy autonomy as energy prices continue to rise and create massive social opposition.

In what will be one of his last speeches as head of the British government, Johnson is expected to announce the need to strengthen domestic power generation capacity through nuclear power to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports. Other countries are not in the hands of their own energy security.

According to the British press, the Prime Minister is also expected to confirm that the British government will accept a 20% stake in the new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in the Suffolk region, which will include two reactors and is valued at around €. 34 billion.

According to the government, Sizewell C will have a capacity of 3.2 gigawatts to supply about six million homes for 60 years and is estimated to take 10 years to build.

Later today, Johnson is expected to confirm that he plans to approve the development of the remaining seven new plants by 2030, at a rate of one reactor every 10 years.

The measures are part of the UK’s energy security strategy, which was announced in April and is due to be delivered today, and includes commitments to completely phase out Russian oil and coal by the end of 2022, with Russian gas taking longer to phase out.

The strategy will also have a strong focus on investing in renewable energies such as wind, solar and hydrogen in the country.

“The situation we face today is very worrying, but this government has taken action,” Sky News reports, adding that Johnson will announce that “our energy security strategy is not just about responding to today’s needs, but for years to come.”

The main objective is to reduce energy prices in the UK and to focus on domestic electricity generation, away from dependence on external supplies.

In today’s speech, the Prime Minister is expected to urge her successor, who will be announced next week, to focus on green energies so that the UK can meet its commitments to carbon neutrality.