Why's the UK trying to bolster its nuclear energy infrastructure?

The UK government has ambitious goals for the quick expansion of the nuclear energy sector in the country, with plans to build two nuclear power stations in the next decade, both were already approved, with the aim of shifting the UK away from the reliance on fossil fuels. 

The UK government recently announced plans for the biggest expansion in nuclear energy in 70 years, hoping to utilize such energy to fulfill 25% of total electricity needs in the country by 2025, which means a nearly 4-fold increase in capacity. 

The new nuclear energy plant located in southwestern England is expected to fulfill nearly 7% of total electricity needs in the UK once it’s online.

It’s worth noting that the French company EDF is managing all five nuclear power stations in the UK right now, and is responsible for developing the next plant in Somerset, valued at nearly $58.4 billion. 

The company also got approval to develop a second plant called Sizewell C, expected to be identical to the first plant, with final decisions to be taken by the end of 2024. 

And now the UK is discussing the potential of a third new nuclear station in Wales, with negotiations ongoing with several major companies in the field, including a major South Korean developer, with the results of the negotiations expected in the next year or two at the most.