Sector wants decisive action on ‘consistent and coherent long-term policies’
The Brussels-based nuclear industry trade association nucleareurope has joined other industry groups to call for G7 governments* to help maximise the use of existing nuclear power plants and set out clear plans for nuclear energy deployment.
“Last year the nuclear alliance of the EU member states set the ambitious target of having 150 GW of installed nuclear capacity in the EU by 2050,” nucleareurope director-general Yves Desbazeille said in a statement that was also signed by Associazione Italiana Nucleare, Canada Nuclear Association, Groupement des Industriels Français de l’Energie Nucléaire, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuclear Industry Association and the World Nuclear Association.
“This was followed by the declaration at Cop28 which called for a tripling of nuclear capacity globally,” Desbazeille said. “Industry and governments now need to work together in order to translate these targets into reality, as highlighted in this statement.”
The industry statement called on G7 climate, energy and environment ministers, who are meeting for two days in Turin, Italy, to take decisive action including “consistent and coherent long-term policies” for the extension of the operating life of existing reactors and the deployment of nuclear technologies.
The group called for clarity for investors on the funding and investment recovery mechanisms available for nuclear projects and “ready access” to national and international climate finance mechanisms for nuclear development.
The statement said the nuclear industry wants the G7 to ensure that multilateral financial institutions include nuclear energy in their investment portfolios and that nuclear energy is clearly and unambiguously labelled as a sustainable investment.
It urged G7 ministers to promote development of the supply chain commensurate with expansion targets and continue investment in nuclear research.
The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Representatives from the European Union also attend G7 meetings.
