Nuclear power

[frogstar]

If the nuclear power facilities weren't renewed, would that mean an end to the UK's nuclear deterrent, or are they different things?

[Loosehead]

They are different things, although weapons grade plutonium and Uranium are residue from power generation, other than that one is not dependant on the other.

[annie0000]

They are entirely different things.

[Teddio]

In the 1950s weapons-grade plutoniun was scarce and nuclear power stations such as Windscale produced it as a by-product. The world is now awash with weapons-grade plutonium (for use as triggers in thermonuclear warheads) and the building of new nuclear power stations wouldn't be a factor.

[kwicky]

As they process weapons grade plutonium from nuclear power stations and there is a world wide shortage of uranium is this the reason for wanting to build more of them to satisfy our future needs? This government has made me cynical!

[jno]

I suppose we could tell the Iranians 'Any funny business and we'll drop Sellafield on you'.