Government hands US firms £20million to assess potential new UK nuclear power station

MINISTERS are handing two US firms £20million to assess plans for a new UK nuclear power station, The Sun reveals.

But the companies demand cash up front for a feasibility study of the Welsh site.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng

Energy and construction firms Westinghouse and Bechtel will not shake on the deal until one is done on the isle of Anglesey.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart jets to Atlanta, Georgia, to meet the firms on Thursday — as PM Boris Johnson unveils a big push for fresh nuclear power.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said last night it would “reverse 30 years of drift and take the big decisions to generate more nuclear power”.

He warned most of our nuke plants will be decommissioned this decade adding: “We need to replace what we’re losing and go further.”

He insisted the UK has to create more of its own energy to stop Putin and his Russian cronies playing “puppet master” over gas.

Cash will come from the Future Nuclear Enabling Fund set up last year.

There will be licences for North Sea drilling and cash for offshore wind.

Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told LBC oil firms should be allowed to invest so “every last drop” can be extracted to help Britain.

North Sea transition authority’s Andy Samuel said it was “sensible” to get oil and gas there.

An UN report told nations to slash carbon emissions because the world is on track to heat by double the 1.5 degree target.