energy - nuclear meltdown
WORKERS, JULY 2003 ISSUE
British Energy (BE) has announced a loss of £3 billion together with £2.7 billion 'exceptional costs' - a 50% reduction in the value of its assets (its power stations). Not a bad track record for privatisation and the private market economy.
At the same time, the once integrated nuclear industries, including British Nuclear Fuels and the Atomic Energy Authority, are to see a new publicly funded body established to take nuclear power stations out of service, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with a budget of £54 billion.
Once up and running it is only a matter of time before its remit is extended to British Energy's decommissioning costs.
The re-arrangement of the nuclear industry's deckchairs has cost the public billions. Now it is to be returned to the public surreptitiously, and unsurprisingly will cost tens of billions more.