‘Westminster should foot the bill for Wylfa B decommissioning’ – Rhun

PLAID Cymru leadership contender Rhun ap Iorwerth has suggested that the UK Government should be held responsible for the decommissioning costs of the new Wylfa B nuclear power station – even if Wales becomes an independent country.

The Ynys Môn AM was responding to Adam Price, another Plaid leadership candidate, who has argued this week that the cost of maintaining and decommissioning a nuclear power station would be unaffordable for an independent Wales.

Plaid Cymru’s official policy is to oppose nuclear power, but it has been prepared to allow its candidates on Ynys Môn to deviate from the party line because successive nuclear power stations on the island have been significant employers.

In a statement, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Potential long-term cost is certainly one of the issues that makes nuclear less attractive to me than investing in a renewables future, but as with other aspects of Wales’ fiscal future, the journey to self-determination will be full of challenges.

“I’m confident we can overcome them and that’s why as First Minister I look forward to commissioning and overseeing the first ever government-led study of the real opportunities and challenges on the road to an independent Wales.

“On energy, for example, we need a Welsh Government that can really hold UK Government’s feet to the fire on the integrity of decommissioning funds for power stations UK Ministers have given the go-ahead to and for long-term underwriting of those costs – including for power stations we already have in place – whilst at the same time building a renewables-based energy strategy for our country.”