By Sama Marwan,
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce plans for nuclear energy expansion in England and Wales, pledging to use the Labour Party’s large majority to make new sites across the country available for power stations.
According to The Guardian, the announcement follows the Prime Minister’s call for tech companies to work alongside the government in building Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to power energy-intensive AI data centers across Britain.
Speaking on Wednesday, Starmer promised to “move beyond hostility” and warned his new MPs in rural and suburban areas that he would “push through” if there was resistance, using his party’s large majority to ensure no opposition. He stated that smaller reactors could be built by 2032 and might become widespread across Britain. He also hinted that the government is keen to offer lower bills to consumers living near new nuclear sites.
For the first time, the UK government will allow nuclear projects to be built outside the previously designated eight sites—meaning locations across the country could now be considered. Planning reforms will also pave the way for the construction of small reactors, which Starmer said was nearly impossible under previous regulations.
The newspaper pointed out that these reactors still face significant obstacles before construction begins, as no commercial small nuclear reactors are currently operational worldwide, and some projects have relied heavily on government funding.
Starmer stated that the new rules, set to be revealed on Thursday, mean that nuclear energy is now viable across the country. He said, “This means it will be in some areas where people never thought there would be anything nuclear near them. And yes, we will have to push it forward.”
Earlier, Starmer issued an open invitation to tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon to invest in AI data centers in Britain, which could be powered by SMRs. He said, “They are very keen to have data centers, and they are fully aware that energy is a big issue, so it’s in their interest for this to happen. There will be a lot of logic to it, as it will provide funding and drive development forward.”
