High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors

Earl of Kinnoull Excerpts

Monday 19th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

We have had two collaborations with the Japanese over the last couple of years, one on HTGRs and one on coated fuels, and we have an ongoing one on robotics. The point made about heat production is crucial. The Japanese, through our collaboration with them through UKNNL, have the demonstrator HTGR ready to go in 2028, specifically focused on hydrogen. We will keep in close contact with them over that, because that production of green hydrogen through nuclear is a very interesting opportunity.

[The Earl of Kinnoull (CB)]

My Lords, can the Minister update the House on the plans to replace Russia in the nuclear fuel supply chain, given that it has a very dominant place there at the moment?

[Lord Vallance of Balham (Lab)]

We have a committed ban on using any import from Russian nuclear fuel by 2028. As of now there is no direct use of Russian fuels; by 2028 indirect use will be eliminated as well. By that I mean fuel processed elsewhere that may have originated in Russia. We have also invested £300 million in making sure that we have our own fuel production, particularly high-assay low-enriched uranium, which is going to be particularly important. That is a major step forward in becoming self-sufficient in some of this fuel.