The final report by Mike Weightman commissioned after the Fukushima disaster in Japan confirms “no fundamental weaknesses” in the UK’s nuclear licensing program.

Despite safety fears, nuclear power is one of the best low-carbon technologies we have.

The report makes 38 recommendations of lessons learned from Fukushima, but stresses that is that nuclear power is safer than it has ever been.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has said “operators should continue to follow the founding principle of continuous improvement”, making nuclear power safer as time goes on.

This news comes just days after the news that the UK government could get a £3bn windfall from the sale of Urenco, a uranium enrichment company.

EDF Energy, which runs 8 nuclear sites in the UK, has welcomed the publication of the Weightman report, and publicly committed to implementing the 38 recommendations made in the report.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is to be made into an independent body, separate from the HSE, and would be formally responsible in law for regulating the nuclear power industry.

Mike Weightman

Mike Weightman is the chief inspector of nuclear installations and executive head of the ONR. He said: “No matter how high our standards, the quest for improvement must never stop. We will ensure lessons are learned from Fukushima. Action has already been taken in many cases, with work underway to further enhance safety at UK sites.”

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne said: “I would like to give my utmost thanks to Dr Weightman for a thorough, detailed and authoritative report.

“The report makes clear that the UK has one of the best nuclear safety regimes in the world and that nuclear power can go on powering homes and businesses across the UK, as well as supporting jobs.”

Mr Huhne recently halted the ‘dash for gas’ after it was announced that significant quantities of shale gas could lie under the UK. Could we now see him go against the Liberal Democrat party line and call for a ‘dash for nuclear’ alongside his fellow coalition partners? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.