Dr Mike Weightman has delivered the report into the implications of the events at the Fukushima nuclear power following the recent earthquake and tsunami. The interim assessment of the implications of the nuclear crisis in Japan concludes there is no need to curtail the operations of nuclear plants in the UK but that lessons should be learnt.
CECA director of external affairs Alasdair Reisner commented: “Today’s report is a real vote of confidence in the abilities of the UK nuclear industry to produce power that is safe and secure both at present, and into the future.
“We fully support the intentions behind Dr Weightman’s investigation. It is absolutely crucial that public faith in the nuclear industry is supported and concerns are answered. Central to this is a duty for the whole nuclear industry to make sure that that any lessons from the Fukushima accident are learnt here in the UK, and rigorous safety and inspection proceedures are in place.
“Today’s report confirms CECA’s view that the UK nuclear industry is underpinned by a robust regime to identify and manage safety risks, both for existing facilities and for the country’s nuclear new build programme.”
The report identifies 25 recommended areas for review - by either industry, the Government or regulators - to determine if sensible and appropriate measures can further improve safety in the UK nuclear industry.
"The extreme natural events that preceded the accident at Fukushima - the magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent huge tsunami - are not credible in the UK. We are 1,000 miles from the nearest fault line and we have safeguards in place that protect against even very remote hazards,” said Weightman. Our operating and proposed future reactor designs and technology are different to the type at the Fukushima plant.
"But we are not complacent. No matter what the differences are, and how high the standard of design and subsequent operation of the nuclear facilities here in the UK, the quest for improvement must never stop. Seeking to learn from events, and from new knowledge, both nationally and internationally, must continue to be a fundamental feature of the safety culture of the UK nuclear industry.”
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