Fuel's errand

How can the nuclear power industry rebound from the Fukushima disaster? David Isenegger, general counsel, Centrica Energy, says after the disaster, European operating nuclear plants and those under construction were evaluated against a variety of extreme 'beyond design basis' scenarios. The UK regulator concluded that UK plants are robust and safe to continue operations. The public appears reassured and support has held. Tom Cowling, group legal counsel, Ecotricity Group adds that opinion polls show that nuclear power has taken a big hit in popularity almost everywhere around the world since Fukushima, except in a few countries, including the UK. The nuclear industry is desperate to convince us that it is the key to a low-carbon future. However, the critical issues of what to do with the waste, who pays to clear it up and what happens in the event of a safety or security breach still do not seem to have been properly addressed.