Gas terminal welcomes Starmer nuclear pledge

The owner of a major gas terminal said it welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to "build, baby, build" more nuclear power stations.

There has been speculation that the firm which owns the Bacton terminal in Norfolk has been interested in constructing a nuclear plant there.

Viaro said it was still in the early stages of any UK plans, but it was "pleased" that the government was "recognising the potential" of nuclear.

North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP, Steff Aquarone, said he was "not convinced that nuclear power is the straightforward easy option its supporters suggest".

On Thursday, the prime minister said he would "take on the blockers" and change planning rules, so new nuclear reactors could be built.

Viaro bought the Bacton terminal last year and in October said it had agreed a partnership with US firm Terrestrial Energy to develop a reactor project in the UK.

Since then there has been speculation from energy industry websites that it could develop a small nuclear plant at the Norfolk site.

The company said it was "still in the early stages of planning an evaluation of siting, macro-economic and policy factors to confirm the viability of the nuclear plant project".

It added: "Only once this initial phase is completed will Viaro and Terrestrial be in a position to complete a detailed evaluation of potential target sites, including external factors on which the realisation depends, before any concrete plans for a plant are made, for what will be a complex multi-year endeavour."

Mr Aquarone said it would be better to develop hydrogen production at the Bacton processing plant, which is 20 miles (32km) from Great Yarmouth and provides about one third of the UK's gas supply.

"To make green hydrogen we need renewable energy, and I have today reiterated my call for more of the offshore wind infrastructure to help support the future electricity requirements at Bacton," he added.

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