MSP calls for Scottish Government to make nuclear power part of the energy mix

Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain has challenged the Scottish Government to embrace new nuclear technologies to enhance Scotland’s energy security.

It is the latest round in the debate about what should happen in Caithness following the decommissioning of Dounreay, currently expected to be complete in 2033.

Mr Mountain called on the SNP and the Greens to drop their opposition to small modular reactors (SMRs).

It follows similar calls last month from Wick and East Caithness councillor Andrew Jarvie who said a breakthrough in fusion experiments meant new nuclear should not be dismissed the by the Scottish Government.

In response, Highlands Against Nuclear Transport (HANT) and the Scottish Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) hit back, saying Cllr Jarvie was "completely mistaken" about his claims.

Mr Mountain has now joined the debate following the publication of the Scottish Government’s draft energy strategy.

In it, the government confirmed that: “We do not support the building of new nuclear power plants under current technologies” and discounted SMRs due to environmental concerns.

Mr Mountain challenged Michael Matheson, the cabinet secretary for net zero, energy and strategy on this view at the Scottish Parliament.

The Highland MSP asked: “Scottish ministers find wind power statistics hard to understand, but here’s a fact that should give them pause for thought. On December 14 last year across the UK, only 3.4 per cent of energy was generated by wind turbines.

“Surely a successful energy strategy needs dependable, flexible sources of power, so why won’t the Scottish Government stop discounting the creation of small modular nuclear reactors?”

Mr Matheson replied that on any given day it could be different, saying: "That will change by the hour and it will change at different times, which is why in the strategy we set out the importance of having an energy mix.

“That’s why we set out not only for onshore and offshore wind, tidal, marine and also for hydro and pump storage but why we want to make sure that we do that mix in a way that gives us the flexibility.”

He added: “The reality is that SMRs are at phase 1 in their technology development process, there is probably at least six, seven or eight years on a technological process these need to go through before you even get to the point where you could take forward a development. They are 10-plus years away.”

Speaking afterwards, Mr Mountain said: “Instead of discounting nuclear energy from the off, the Scottish Government should embrace this energy source as part of its long-term energy strategy.

“Caithness would be an ideal site for new nuclear technologies to be developed, especially with the decommissioning of Dounreay.

“However, unless the SNP-Green coalition drop their anti-nuclear stance then any hopes for a new nuclear energy site in the county will be dashed.

“Given the cost of energy crisis, the Scottish Government should not be opposing technologies which can deliver power reliably.”

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