EDF Energy鈥檚 chief operating officer has called on the government 鈥渘ot to let up for a second鈥 in its drive to build nuclear power stations in the UK.

Speaking at 好色先生TV鈥檚 Gearing up for Nuclear New Build conference on Monday, Martin Lawrence said Europe鈥檚 energy vulnerability presented the industry with an 鈥渁mazing opportunity鈥.

He told delegates: 鈥淲e urge the government not to relax their efforts, not for a second. It鈥檚 about keeping the lights on in the UK and across Europe, protecting customers from fuel poverty and saving our planet from catastrophe.鈥

EDF plans to build up to four nuclear stations in the UK. Lawrence said they would be 鈥淯K projects, with UK jobs and UK companies鈥.

Also speaking at the conference was Lakhbir Hans from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, who outlined the government鈥檚 proposed timetable for choosing nuclear sites. She said there would be an eight-week window for site nominations early next year.

Jean Llewellyn, head of the new National Skills Academy for Nuclear, also outlined plans for a 鈥減assport鈥 scheme to increase the flow of personnel between nuclear projects by allowing employers to check CVs online.