MP Mark Menzies has welcomed a £10 million award to one of Fylde’s biggest employers, to develop advanced modular nuclear reactors.
The funding, totalling some £9,998,387has been awarded to Westinghouse Electric Company to carry out ‘An Innovative Nuclear Solution based on Lead Fast Reactor Technology’.
Mr Menzies said: “I’m delighted the Government has awarded Westinghouse £10 million in the advanced modular reactor programme.
“I’ve met with ministers to press for this several times. We should not be awarding new nuclear contracts to companies which then bring in fuel from abroad.
“I’m pleased to see we now have a situation where Westinghouse can design reactors, as well as provide fuel from the Springfields facility here in Fylde.
“It is important not just for job retention and creation, but also to ensure we maintain the skill and knowledge to produce fuel in the future.”
The funding was announced by business minister Nadhim Zahawi.
He said: “This project will address some of the challenges towards implementation of Advanced Nuclear Technologies which could supply low-carbon heat, hydrogen and other clean energy in the decades ahead as the race to Net Zero gathers pace.
“The £40m of programme funding announced today will lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs, while also accelerating the development of this cutting-edge, low-carbon technology, representing another important step towards creating a Net Zero economy by 2050.”
The funding is part of the Government’s £505m Energy Innovation Programme.