APPENDIX 8
Memorandum submitted to the Committee
by Industrial and Power Association
The Industrial and Power Association represents
a group of companies in Scotland that are involved in the power
industry.
The objective of the IPA is to promote and support
the Power Engineering and Manufacturing Industry in its effort
to make a sustainable contribution to the economy of Scotland
and of the UK.
The IPA has had the opportunity of reviewing
the evidence submitted to the Committee by the Nuclear Industry
Association.
The IPA supports the views of the NIA in principle
in that the solution to the replacement of existing nuclear and
conventional power generation facilities cannot come entirely
from renewable energy.
However, whilst new nuclear power capacity should
replace existing nuclear capacity, it is appropriate that technologies
being developed in Scotland that result in the generation of "low
carbon fossil fuel power" should be part of the policy for
energy in Scotland. Both proposals, nuclear and low carbon fossil
fuel power, capitalise on the engineering and technology strengths
in Scotland and provide a platform for export opportunities.
It is now clear that the dominant technology
in renewable energy, Wind Power, is not generating sustainable
economic activity within the Scottish and the UK industry.
Further, the NIA evidence notes that, in relation
to jobs in the Caithness region, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
has a remit to consider economic regeneration. The IPA takes the
view that the NDA should be given a mandate to achieve, through
its work, demonstrable economic regeneration at local level and
at national level. The market for nuclear decommissioning is world-wide
and the UK programme provides an opportunity to create a UK-based
strength in engineering, technology and Project Management that
can win export opportunities for the benefit of the UK economy.
This export success can only be achieved through
a national resource of significant size and strength, and not
just by a locally developed resource.
Charles Shields
Chief Executive
Industrial and Power Association
14 January 2005
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