Brown entices nuclear energy executives

Prime minister Gordon Brown has said there should be "no upper limit" concerning the number of nuclear power plants built in the UK.

Prime minister Gordon Brown has said there should be "no upper limit" concerning the number of nuclear power plants built in the UK.

Commenting on the development of January's white paper, which argued the case for nuclear power, the prime minister said yesterday that such power was crucial for the country if oil prices are to continue rising.

As well as indefinite future plans Mr Brown also laid out a fast-track scheme to speed up the building of eight nuclear power plants in the UK, providing the private sector with a wealth of contracts to look forward to.

Speaking about the reasons for Mr Brown's strong rhetoric in his commitment for nuclear energy, one Downing Street source told the Independent: "The industry will not make the long-term investment required to build a new nuclear power station if they think the Government is not totally committed to nuclear energy."

Along with a higher interest in nuclear energy came a recommitment to renewable energy, such as is being seen in the North Sea and in western Scotland.

As well as offering a chance to detach itself from oil dependency a nuclear "renaissance", as Mr Brown put it, could also reduce Britain's carbon footprint.