§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated capital cost of doubling the capacity of the uranium enrichment plant at Capenhurst; and how this cost will be met.
§ Mr. BennI am advised that the total cost of the new capacity and related facilities at Capenhurst will be some £90 million at 1978 prices. This will be met from a number of sources including self generated funds, loans from the European Investment Bank and funds provided by the Dutch and German partners in the collaboration.
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on the decision to double the capacity of the uranium enrichment plant at Capenhurst, in the light of the probable excess of enrichment capacity in Europe by the mid-1980s;
(2) what plans are being made for the storage of enriched uranium when excess capacity for the production of this material develops in Europe; and if the excess will be stored in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BennThe extension of capacity at Capenhurst, of which I informed the House on 13 February, is required to meet firm contracts for reactors already licensed or in operation. These contracts have been entered into by URENCO with the approval of the three Governments in 593W the collaboration. It should not therefore give rise to an excess of material to be stored in the United Kingdom.