Questions over costs of nuclear

IF STEUART Campbell is ­correct in his assertion that nuclear power stations in the UK have succeeded in paying their way without subsidy (Letters, 11 November), perhaps he could explain why it was necessary for the UK Government to nationalise a near-bankrupt British Energy, before selling it to EDF for just £12.5 billion without passing on any responsibility for future decommissioning of current sites to the new owners?

That, however, is in the past. If it’s going to be different in the future, perhaps Mr Campbell could explain why EDF wants a guaranteed minimum electricity price for nuclear of £140 per MW/h – well in ­excess of what it costs to ­generate from fossil fuels and most renewables, whether in receipt of subsidy or not?

Richard Thomson, Ellon