The Conservative Government have today (Thursday 11 January) announced their biggest Nuclear deal in 70 years. The Nuclear roadmap includes a plan for advancing Hartlepool’s AMR project for the first time.
The Nuclear Roadmap is a commitment to increasing nuclear generation by up to 4 times to 24GW by 2050.
This plan will help the UK to reach net-zero, and power Britain from inside Britain, meaning household energy bills won’t be affected by events such as the Ukrainian-Russian war again.
Most significantly for Hartlepool, the roadmap promises a commitment to developing a strong government support offer for private sector AMR vendors, which will allow plans to begin moving forwards for an AMR on Hartlepool’s proposed site.
Hartlepool MP, Jill Mortimer, has been lobbying for an AMR in Hartlepool since her election, and today speaking in the chamber, Andrew Bowie, Minister for Nuclear, appeared to confirm she had secured an AMR.
This success will be transformative for industry in Hartlepool as unlike an SMR, AMR’s can offer benefits beyond power provision, including high-grade steam, heat, and hydrogen production.
On Hartlepool’s uniquely suitable site, an AMR would allow Teesside industrial cluster to decarbonise their activity.
This would attract huge new investment, in turn creating stable well-paid job opportunities for hundreds of families across Hartlepool.
Including investment into AMR, the roadmap also includes plans to explore a new power station as big as Hinkley C and Sizewell C, which will power 6 million homes.
Speaking following the announcement, Jill Mortimer MP said:
“I am thrilled by today’s announcement. I have been fighting since my election for a replacement reactor in Hartlepool to offer those employed at the existing plant stability, and an important opportunity to decarbonise the local industry.
“This announcement not only guarantees a new reactor on our site, but the roadmap opens the door to AMR technologies and accelerates the pace to introduce them.
“There will be celebrations across the country tonight in nuclear households. I am elated for those working in nuclear in Hartlepool and across the region.”