§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the total cost of uranium and heavy water 290W for the planned 4,000 MW SGHWR programme.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to build a heavy water plant in the United Kingdom in conjunction with the SGHWR programme; and at what overall cost.
§ Mr. EadieThis will be considered in due course in the light of progress with the SGHWR programme.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimated capacity a heavy water plant would require to meet the demands of a 4,000 MW SGHWR programme.
§ Mr. EadieThe requirement of a SGHWR for heavy water is almost entirely for the intial charge. The capacity of heavy water plant would, therefore, depend on the rate at which such a programme was developed. The total requirement would be approximately 1,500 tonnes.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current price per kilo of heavy water; and how this price compares with that of two years ago.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many suppliers of heavy water there are in the non-Communist countries in the event of the generating boards purchasing requirements from abroad.
§ Mr. EadieCanada is the only country at present with the annual capacity to supply under contract the heavy water required for the initial charge of a nuclear reactor. Only minor quantities are currently available from the USA.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy what security of supply for the British programme he estimates there would be by purchasing supplies of heavy water from the USSR.
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§ Mr. EadieAll possible sources of heavy water for the initial programme continue to be explored by the CEGB. In reaching decisions, the security of any supply, and its effect in diversifying total supplies, will need to be taken into account.