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Brown expands nuclear ambitions Brown expands nuclear ambitions
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said the UK needs to increase its nuclear power capacity - raising the prospect of plants being built in new locations.Gordon Brown has said the UK needs to increase its nuclear power capacity - raising the prospect of plants being built in new locations.
The prime minister said that with oil prices soaring: "We will be more ambitious for our plans for nuclear in the future." The prime minister said that with oil prices soaring, it was time to be "more ambitious" for nuclear plans.
Ministers announced in January they backed new nuclear power plants. No 10 sources said it was "open" as to whether new sites might be needed.
But the focus was on replacing existing nuclear capacity as plants reached the end of their life. Ministers announced in January they backed new plants, but the focus was on replacing existing nuclear capacity as plants reached the end of their life.
And a review of possible sites at the time focused on the 14 sites where there have been nuclear power plants before. And a review of possible sites at the time focused on the 14 locations where there have been nuclear power plants before.
'Pretty clear''Pretty clear'
Speaking to oil industry representatives Banchory, near Aberdeen, Mr Brown said: "We want to do more to diversify our supply of energy and that's why I think we are pretty clear that we will have to do more than simply replace existing nuclear capability in Britain." Speaking to oil industry representatives in Banchory, near Aberdeen, Mr Brown said: "We want to do more to diversify our supply of energy and that's why I think we are pretty clear that we will have to do more than simply replace existing nuclear capability in Britain.
"We will be more ambitious for our plans for nuclear in the future."
Business Secretary John Hutton has previously hinted he wants the nuclear industry to go beyond replacing its 23 ageing reactors, which provide 20% of the UK's electricity.Business Secretary John Hutton has previously hinted he wants the nuclear industry to go beyond replacing its 23 ageing reactors, which provide 20% of the UK's electricity.
Downing Street said Mr Brown's comments were the first time the prime minister had said explicitly that building plans for nuclear plants should be expanded beyond the current proposed replacements. But Downing Street said Mr Brown's comments were the first time the prime minister had said explicitly that building plans for nuclear plants should be expanded beyond the current proposed replacements.
Downing Street sources said plans could involve expanding existing nuclear power stations or building new plants. "How this is done is entirely open," one source said.
The replacement power plants would be expected to be more efficient than those coming to the end of their service.The replacement power plants would be expected to be more efficient than those coming to the end of their service.
Energy companies, rather than the government, build power stations.
The nuclear industry currently employs around 40,000 workers and supports another 40,000 jobs indirectly.The nuclear industry currently employs around 40,000 workers and supports another 40,000 jobs indirectly.
No new nuclear power plants have been built in the UK since Sizewell B, which opened in 1994.No new nuclear power plants have been built in the UK since Sizewell B, which opened in 1994.