Evan Davis Bigs Up New Nuclear at Sizewell, Ignores Nuclear Waste

The following complaint has been made to the BBCs Radio 4 PM programme with Evan Davis on 15th April at Sizewell C ....

The visit to Sizewell C by Evan Davis was preceeded with no irony with a news item about the felling of a single oak tree.

Tens of thousands of trees felled to clear the decks for Sizewell C

Sizewell C contractors have felled tens of thousands of trees even before any permissions that the nuclear plant could go ahead. No mention of the lack of democratic accountability.

The “balance” in the programme was provided by Prof Thomas who was given a fraction of the air time of those employed by the industry.

Evan Davis read out some statistics of electricity being produced at that moment - saying Sizewell B was producing 1.2 GW of 35 GW being used - he then dismissed wind and solar as being “not such a big part” this was deliberately misleading as on the 15th April according to National Grid Live, Wind and Solar produced 12.91 GW and 1.30 GW respectively. Globally nuclear produces 10% of electricity while wind and solar produce over 13%. Clearly Evan’s statement of wind and solar being “not a big part” was intended to mislead the listeners.

National Grid Live April 15th

The issue of heat produced to turn the turbines was briefly mentioned but what was glossed over was the fact that nuclear fission is the most energy inefficient form of producing electricity with the industry using a vanishingly small proportion of the heat produced to turn turbines, the rest is left in the wastes which will continue to send out a vicious heat that cannot be turned off with the “solution” to bury the waste under the Irish Sea.

The industry spokesman's assertion that the waste does not leave the Sizewell site was not challenged. Reprocessing Magnox fuel (used by Sizewell A and B) was carried out at Sellafield until 2022 with tonnes of fuel going to Sellafield. This made more waste streams and increased the volume of waste with much of it being sent down the pipeline into the sea at Sellafield. Radioactive particles from reprocessing Sizewell wastes continue to wash up on Cumbrian beaches with every tide.

note the wastes from decommissioning Sizewell A have ended up largely in Cumbria - the fuel wastes are earmarked for a nuclear dump