UK: Nuclear fuel fund now open in bid to cut fuel reliance on Russia

The United Kingdom announced that its nuclear fuel fund was now open following its first unveiling back in July. The fund aims to boost domestic nuclear fuel production as the country looks to cut down its fuel reliance on Russia.

On Monday, the British government said its $90.5 million nuclear fuel fund was now open for applications. First announced in July, the fund will give grants to businesses that are involved in uranium conversion, which is a key step in the process of creating nuclear fuel. The fund will be open for applications until February 20.

“Record high gas prices caused by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, have highlighted the need for more home-grown renewable energy, but also UK-generated nuclear power – building more plants, and developing domestic fuel capability,” said energy and climate minister Graham Stuart.

The government said up to £13 million has already been awarded to the Springfields nuclear manufacturing site located in northwest England. Back in November, the British government said it will become a 50 percent shareholder in the Sizewell C nuclear project, providing £700 million in funds to the plant, planned for southeast England.

On Sunday, the British chapter of the Extinction Rebellion environmental group said it was pausing its acts of public disruption in order to get more people to support its campaign against climate change. The group issued a statement titled “We Quit,” saying that in the four years that it has tried to raise awareness of climate change through disruptive acts, little has changed, and emissions are still rising.

“As we ring in the new year, we make a controversial resolution to temporarily shift away from pubic disruption as a primary tactic,” said the group in the statement. “What’s needed now most is to disrupt the abuse of power and imbalance, to bring about a transition to a fair society that works together to end the fossil fuel era. Our politicians, addicted to greed and bloated on profits, won’t do it without pressure.”

The group said it plans to focus on shoring more public support and bridge-building to boost its power and influence.