To help the UK reach clean energy targets, small modular reactors
(SMRs) must be built in Britain as part of a just transition to
net zero, Unite, the UK’s leading union, warned today.
During Rishi Sunak’s net zero speech last week, the prime
minister said that in the coming weeks the government
will ‘shortlist the companies to build the new generation of
small modular reactors’. As well as UK-based Rolls-Royce SMR,
other bidders for the £20 billion contracts include
companies based in the US and Japan.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government
has put the contracts to build SMRs out to international
tender. This is despite the fact that UK-based Rolls-Royce SMR
and its workforce are the world leaders in the technology.
“Not awarding this contract to Rolls-Royce SMR as quickly as
possible would be a complete betrayal of UK manufacturing and the
exact opposite of a just transition. Not only would it endanger
the potential to create thousands of decent skilled UK jobs, but
it would also be a colossal act of economic self-harm.
“SMRs are pivotal to phasing out carbon-based energy sources and
Rolls-Royce SMR is firmly placed to become a global exporter of
this key technology. Frankly, it would be madness if the
government gave this contract to a US or Japanese company.”
The warning comes days after Unite signed a national recognition
agreement with Rolls-Royce SMR.
Unite national officer for aerospace and shipbuilding, Rhys
McCarthy, said: “Unite is the leading UK trade union in
nuclear-based industries and we welcome the signing of this
recognition agreement, which will hopefully lay the foundations
for positive industrial relations for years to come. We are
confident that Rolls-Royce SMR has a bright future and will
support thousands of well-paid, skilled and secure jobs.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Rolls-Royce SMR will draw upon standard nuclear energy technology
that has been used in hundreds of reactors around the
world. Each Rolls-Royce SMR can provide enough low-carbon
electricity to power a million homes for at least 60 years.
SMR’s will produce clean energy and play a key role in the move
away from fossil fuels as a response to the climate change
emergency and the journey towards net zero. Just one Rolls-Royce
SMR would be the equivalent size of two football pitches and
produce as much power as 150 onshore wind turbines.
