Rolls-Royce to build Britain's first mini-nuclear power plant

2025-11-13 21:19:31Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Britain chose North Wales for its first small nuclear power plant, even though the United States had wanted a large, US-led plant to be built there as part of its greater involvement in the UK's energy sector.

Britain has backed the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a way to quickly and cheaply increase energy security and meet climate targets, with its prominent engineering company Rolls-Royce leading the project. Building large-scale nuclear power plants can take decades.

The decision to choose Wylfa on Anglesey, an island in North Wales that was home to an old nuclear power plant, for an SMR sparked anger in the US, which has criticised Britain's energy strategy for driving up prices and weakening Britain.

"We are extremely disappointed by this decision, not least because there are cheaper, faster, and already approved options to deliver clean and secure energy to the same location," US Ambassador Warren Stephens said in a statement.

The US had pushed for American energy firm Westinghouse to lead a large-scale project at Wylfa, but Britain opted for the British-built SMR on the Welsh island, where the centre-left Labour Party is losing political support.

The British government said it would consider building a new large-scale nuclear power plant elsewhere and has tasked state-owned company GB Energy-Nuclear with finding a suitable site by autumn 2026.


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