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The Scottish Nuclear Free Local Authorities have been reassured by a recent reply from Scottish Government Net Zero Minister Michael Matheson that Small Modular Reactors are not under consideration at the Grangemouth refinery complex.
Following media speculation that INEOS was contemplating co-locating an SMR next to its colossal refinery to power operations, the Convenor of the Scottish NFLA, Councillor Paul Leinster, wrote to the minister expressing grave concerns that the combination of a nuclear power station next to the chemical refinery represents ‘a disaster waiting-to-happen’.
Covering an area of 1,700 acres and with 2,000 staff, INEOS’s own website describes Grangemouth as a ‘world-scale petrochemicals plant’ which produces about 7 million tonnes of fuels, much of which is used in Scotland, and 1.4 million tonnes of other products per year. These products are synthetic ethanol, ethylene, propylene, polyethylene and polypropylene used in the food packaging, construction, automotive and pharmaceutical industries.
In his letter, Cllr Leinster described an accident involving an SMR and the INEOS refinery as ‘a monumental calumny for Scotland against which any Hollywood disaster movie would pale by comparison’. To the NFLA, ‘it would be madness to partner a nuclear power plant with Scotland’s biggest explosive chemical factory’.
In his response, dated 12 January, Michael Matheson was quick to reassure the NFLA that Scottish Ministers ‘remain committed’ to their ‘long-standing government policy to withhold support for any new nuclear power stations to be built in Scotland’ and that officials have been advised by INEOS that ‘Small Modular Reactors do not currently form part of their net zero road map for Grangemouth’.
Commenting Cllr Leinster gave a cautious welcome to the news: “This is good news, but the situation at Grangemouth still remains a situation to watch as pointedly INEOS apparently said ‘currently’ rather than ‘never’.
“Rumours of new nuclear at the two new Green Freeports in Scotland have now also emerged and the NFLA has again written to Minister Matheson to nip this in the bud.
“Scotland simply does not need new nuclear to provide for its energy needs – we should be looking and investing in a 100% renewable future for the nation, powered by wind, solar, hydro, tidal and geothermal.”
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Notes to Editors
Please direct enquiries to Richard Outram, NFLA Secretary, by email to richard.outram@manchester.gov.uk
The NFLA sent Minister Matheson a letter on 12 December 2022:
Mr. Michael Matheson MSP,
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
12 December 2022
Dear Cabinet Secretary,
I am writing to you as Convenor of the Scotland Forum of the UK/Ireland Steering Committee of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities about the proposal to co-locate a Rolls-Royce Small Modular (Nuclear) Reactor (or indeed any so-called SMR) alongside the Ineos Grangemouth Refinery.
We are convinced that placing a nuclear power plant next to a powder-keg of explosive chemicals may represent a disaster waiting-to-happen and we would urge the Scottish Government to ensure that such a proposal never goes ahead.
Covering an area of 1,700 acres and with 2,000 staff, Ineos’s own website describes Grangemouth as a ‘world-scale petrochemicals plant’ which produces about 7 million tonnes of fuels, much of which is used in Scotland, and 1.4 million tonnes of other products per year. These products are synthetic ethanol, ethylene, propylene, polyethylene and polypropylene used in the food packaging, construction, automotive and pharmaceutical industries.[2]
Consequently, the output of the plant comprises both inflammable and highly inflammable products, and operations there are conducted in observance with the requirements of a strict health and safety regime and an emergency plan is in place which determines the response in the event of an emergency.
Despite the catastrophic loss of life and the resultant pollution that might follow an accident, Grangemouth is worryingly located not in a remote location in Scotland, but rather just outside Falkirk in Scotland’s heavily populated central belt. The possible impact has even been factored into the design of the local football ground with the Council restricting capacity to 10,000 and refusing permission to build a spectator stand at the point nearest the refinery as it lies in the ‘blast zone’.[3]
We have especial concerns about the Roll-Royce Small Modular Reactor. It is an unproven design, which has yet to receive approval from the nuclear regulator, but the NFLA would be opposed to any nuclear reactor co-located with Grangemouth because there are two real accident scenarios we fear most.
One scenario involves an explosion at the refinery which compromises the integrity of the reactor vessel or which damages vital cooling and engineering features that control the fission reaction leading to an out-of-control plant. The other possibility is that there could be an accident at the nuclear plant that could cause a secondary explosion at the refinery.
In both instances, not only could there be colossal damage and loss of life within the local community, but also possibly radioactive contamination being released over the populous Scottish central belt.
This would be a monumental calumny for Scotland against which any Hollywood disaster movie would pale by comparison. In the NFLA’s view it would be madness to partner a nuclear power plant with Scotland’s biggest explosive chemical factory.
It is our hope that the Scottish Government will share our views and that you are able to confirm that ministers remain committed to opposing any new nuclear plants in Scotland, particularly in such a dangerous location as Grangemouth.
[1] https://www.ineos.com/sites/grangemouth/about/
[2] https://www.ineos.com/sites/grangemouth/about/
Minister Matheson replied on 12 January 2023:
