Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major nuclear partnership with the United States, promising a "golden age of nuclear" that will create thousands of jobs and drive down energy bills. The deal comes ahead of Donald Trump's state visit this week and aims to accelerate nuclear power station construction in both countries.
The agreement will slash the time needed for nuclear projects to obtain licensing from three or four years to just two years. This regulatory streamlining is designed to turbocharge the building of new nuclear power stations across both nations.
Hartlepool reactor project
X-Energy and Centrica plan to build up to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool as part of the expanded partnership. The project would generate enough power for up to 1.5 million homes and create up to 2,500 jobs for the Teesside area.
Starmer said: "These major commitments set us well on course to a golden age of nuclear that will drive down household bills in the long run, while delivering thousands of good jobs in the short term. Together with the US, we're building a golden age of nuclear that puts both countries at the forefront of global innovation and investment."
Energy security focus
The UK is pushing to create more clean, homegrown power to protect British households from energy shocks like Russia's invasion of Ukraine that sent bills rocketing. The nuclear expansion represents the biggest push for atomic energy in Britain for half a century.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering slashing household energy costs in the upcoming Budget. According to reports, options include lowering the five per cent VAT rate on domestic energy bills to zero, which would save households around £86 annually but cost the Treasury an estimated £1.75 billion per year.
Additional industrial projects
The Ministry of Defence separately announced plans for the UK's largest drone production plant, opening in Swindon next year and creating 1,000 highly-skilled jobs. Only The Guardian reports an additional £11 billion project by Holtec, EDF and Tritax for advanced datacentres powered by small modular reactors at the former Cottam coal station.
The Budget on November 26 is expected to be pivotal for the Government, with Reeves working to address public finance gaps while managing rising borrowing costs.
Sources used: "Mirror", "The Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
