Friends of the Earth Cymru critical of Wylfa life-extension proposal

Friends of the Earth Cymru was strongly critical of today's proposal by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) to extend the operation of the Wylfa nuclear power station until 2016/2021. FOE Cymru would like to see the station closed by the end of current operating licence in 2004. The organisation believe that the longer the ageing nuclear station operates the more likely it is that safety would be compromised and the more radioactive waste would be generated. A further implication of the BNFL announcement is that a gas power station development on Anglesey, mainly to supply Anglesey Aluminium Metals Ltd, should not be opened unless or until Wylfa, the smelter's current supplier, closes [1]. FOE Cymru says that any large gas power station built on Anglesey would be very inefficient in its use of gas resources [2].

Neil Crumpton, an energy campaigner at FOE Cymru said:

"We would like to see Wylfa closed down by the end of its current operating licence in 2004. Furthermore, no gas power station proposals in North Wales should be opened until Wylfa closes."

Notes

1. A proposal for a major gas power station (400-500 MW -which could supply about a quarter of current electrical consumption in Wales) may be put forward by Burlington in the next few weeks.

2. A gas station on Anglesey would probably be around 60% efficient as opposed to 85-90% efficiency achievable by latest technology.