Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has spoken out about the possible implications for the UK on the problems with nuclear power stations in Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami there last week.
Chris Huhne said: 'We take this incident extremely seriously even though there is no reason to expect a similar scale of seismic activity in the UK. I have called on the Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr. Mike Weightman for a thorough report on the implications of the situation in Japan and the lessons to be learned. This will be prepared in close cooperation internationally with other nuclear regulators.

'It is essential that we understand the full facts and their implications, both for existing nuclear reactors and any new programme, as safety is always our number one concern.'

Electricite de France SA and E.ON AG (EOAN) led declines among nuclear utilities on concern that explosions at two Japanese reactors may spur governments to backtrack on plans to expand atomic energy, according to Bloomberg. Renewable power and natural-gas stocks rose on prospects for increased demand.

Bloomberg said: 'EDF, the world’s largest operator of reactors, slumped as much as 4.8 percent in Paris trading, the biggest intraday decline since May. E.ON, Germany’s largest utility, had its biggest drop in six months. German solar cell producer Q-Cells SE (QCE) jumped 16 percent, turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S rose 4.8 percent in Copenhagen, and gas producer BG Group Plc (BG/) gained 2.2 percent in London.'

For continuing coverage of the events in Japan click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news