A major trade union has claimed Scotland is missing out on a £1bn “economic boom” by blocking new nuclear power stations. The GMB says thousands of new jobs would be created if SNP Ministers backed the reactor plan supported by the Labour Government.
John Swinney’s Government is firmly opposed to giving the green light to new plants after the existing Torness station is decommissioned.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar raised the snub at Holyrood last week and demanded a rethink.
Louise Gilmour, Scottish Secretary of the GMB, told the Record: “For every possible reason, the Scottish Government must review and reverse its opposition to new nuclear. It makes no sense if ministers want to achieve Net Zero targets for clean energy and it makes no sense if they want Scotland’s economy to grow again.
“Ministers say they want to produce safe, reliable and clean energy in Scotland. New nuclear is all of those things and, in addition, can support thousands of highly-skilled, well-paid jobs. The benefits in terms of energy security and reduced emissions are crucial but so too are the economic benefits. The potential of new nuclear energy cannot be ignored any longer and Scotland has wasted too much time already.”
Gilmour has written to SNP energy minister Gillian Martin claiming new reactors can help cut emissions while pouring hundreds of millions of pounds into the economy.
She said green-lighting new mini reactors at existing nuclear sites could create thousands of skilled jobs. She said new jobs, work for contractors and business rates paid by the plants would “easily” generate £1 billion for the economy over five years.
Around 1600 Scots are working at the Hinkley Point nuclear plant hundreds of miles away in Somerset. Nearly 15% of the 12,000 workforce come from Scotland, fuelling calls for the jobs to be created north of the border.
Sarwar said last week: “For almost 20 years, the SNP has vetoed nuclear energy projects in Scotland, leaving jobs growth and skills to go elsewhere. But the next generation of small nuclear reactors could revolutionise our energy market.
“China is constructing 29 reactors, and the EU has 12 at planning stage. That is a huge advantage in the global race to harness new technologies to deliver cleaner, affordable, independent energy. So why is John Swinney determined to let Scotland fall behind?”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the First Minister made clear in parliament this week, the Scottish Government’s policy is to take advantage of Scotland’s extraordinary natural resources by continuing to prioritise renewable energy development.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, clickhere