GMB, the energy union, has described Toshiba’s involvement in the Moorside nuclear plant project as a ‘monumental cock up’. And it has called on the Government to get involved as nuclear jobs in Lancashire and Cumbria are at stake. Toshiba – one of the major financial backers of the project – has warned of £7bn annual losses. The Japanese company finally released its third quarter results after twice delaying them. Toshiba made the unusual move of releasing the details without them being signed off by auditors. Westinghouse has the Springfields site at Salwick, and there are fears the loss of Moorside could be a blow as it was due to supply nuclear fuel for the new power stations. Justin Bowden, GMB national secretary, said: “We are fast running out of adjectives to describe this ridiculous pantomime surrounding Toshiba and its involvement in the UK’s vital and much-needed new nuclear plant at Moorside As monumental cock ups go it’s hard to imagine a worse energy-related one in recent times. “This should an abject lesson to any government of any political persuasion as to why foreign companies and foreign investors should not be left with the responsibility of keeping the country’s lights on and economy working. “The key question now is what the hell the UK government is doing to take control of the situation?”
Blackpool 18th April 2017 read more »