An MP has insisted that Northern Ireland “cannot afford” to reject nuclear power outright.

Jim Allister has made a call for the Province to explore the idea of hosting its own reactors, specifically a miniature type called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

After a constituent raised the issue with him he contacted the government in London, but was told that such an idea would require the support of the Stormont Executive – and that it opposes the idea.

He said it is “nonsensical” not to consider the option, especially given rising fossil fuel costs.

placeholder image — A general view of a nuclear reactor operation chamber (photo by DEVI RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images); Jim Allister has said Northern Ireland should be open to the idea of small nuclear reactors to generate power

The London government’s response to Mr Allister had come via science minister Lord Vallance, who wrote that nuclear power is “low-carbon and stable” and is “crucial” for the UK and noted that 24 Northern Irish firms are helping to build the new Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in Somerset.

"However, planning and energy in Northern Ireland are devolved matters,” concluded Lord Vallance.

"Discussions and decisions on new nuclear in Northern Ireland would therefore require support and approval from the Northern Ireland Executive, who oppose new nuclear development in Northern Ireland.

"The Department [for Energy Security and Net Zero] remains open to discussions on new nuclear in Northern Ireland should this position change in the future.”

The News Letter in turn sought to confirm the position of The Executive Office, and it passed the question to the Department for the Economy, which replied that it is an excepted matter – in other words, one that is permanently under the control of Westminster.

Mr Allister said that, in reality, it is probably “a bit of both”, in that nuclear power matters are reserved for London but the devolved government “is capable of stymying it”; in other words, “without Stormont being favourable, it’s unlikely to happen from a Westminster perspective”.

He said: "The minister has confirmed that nuclear provides significant benefits, including long-term high-paid jobs and training opportunities.

"It is nonsensical that our businesses are good enough to build nuclear infrastructure for the rest of the UK, yet our own Executive refuses to allow that same technology to provide us with energy security at home...

"Northern Ireland should not be left behind while the rest of the United Kingdom moves toward energy resilience.

"We need clarity and evidence-based decision-making, not a policy that risks constraining our economic future and energy security."

Mr Allister said he is specifically calling for a re-assessment of the role SMRs could play in Northern Ireland.

These are “advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW(e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors,” according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

For comparison, Kilroot power station, which is reliant on gas, currently has a capacity of about 142 MW.

Earlier this month, taoiseach Micheal Martin said he was “open” to the idea of nuclear energy in the Republic of Ireland, but that the cost of building the infrastructure was “enormous”.