The future of nuclear power in Wales inquiry launched
20 January 2016
The Welsh Affairs Committee launches an inquiry into the future of nuclear power in Wales. The inquiry will examine the decommissioning of nuclear plants at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd, and the development of a new plant, Wylfa Newydd.
Terms of reference
The committee invites written evidence on the following issues:
- Whether Wylfa Newydd will be built on schedule
- What the cost of Wylfa Newydd will be and whether it represents value for money
- What the strike price (the guaranteed price per kilowatt hour for electricity for the owners of Wylfa Newydd) from Wylfa Newydd is likely to be and what impact it will have on energy prices in Wales
- What impact will Wylfa Newydd have on the economy of Anglesey and Wales
- What the environmental impact of Wylfa Newydd will be
- How the decommissioning of Wylfa and Trawsfynydd is being carried out
- What the economic impact of the decommissioning of Trawsfynydd will be
- What potential there is for small modular reactors to be built at Trawsfynydd and how that will impact decommissioning and future planning
- Whether the Welsh Government and UK Government are co-ordinating their policy in this area
Interested parties are requested to keep to a word limit of 3,000 words and to focus on key areas that the Committee should investigate during its inquiry. The deadline for written submissions is 4 March 2016 at 6pm.
Send a written submission via the future of nuclear power in Wales inquiry page.
The Committee will begin taking oral evidence from March, and will continue its inquiry until Easter.
Chair's comments
Committee chairman David T.C. Davies said
"The future of nuclear power at the Wylfa site is a perfect microcosm for the many issues surrounding this controversial source of energy, both in Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom. As the old generators are shut down we need to examine how the decommissioning process is carried out and what the environmental impact will be.
This will provide a useful background as we evaluate plans to develop new reactors on the site. As we face a radical rethink of how we provide energy security in a world with reduced capacity for carbon emissions, we will ask if nuclear energy is a good option for Wales. Will it provide value for money for the country and will it help the local economy, both in terms of job creation and providing power to support industry."
Further information
Image: Parliamentary copyright