The UK government has said it is currently scouring the market for potential gas import deals as part of a new supply security push.

The technical objectives of STEP are: to deliver predictable net electricity greater than 100 MW; to innovate to exploit fusion energy beyond electricity production; to ensure tritium self-sufficiency; to qualify materials and components under appropriate fusion conditions; and to develop a viable path to affordable lifecycle costs.

The two sides discussed pressing bilateral issues and expressed a mutual commitment to pursue Russian-Bahraini relations in a traditionally friendly, mutually beneficial and constructive manner.

Director General Grossi said “there is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means. This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.”

Naftogaz and Gazprom signed in December 2019 a gas transit agreement under ship-or-pay terms, meaning Gazprom is obliged to pay for transit whether it uses it or not.

The GBP3.3 million funding through the Advanced Modular Reactor Research, Development and Demonstration (AMR RD&D) programme - part of the GBP385 million Advanced Nuclear Fund - will support the development of innovative nuclear technology in the UK, such as high temperature gas reactors (HTGRs).

This is part of the GBP1.7 billion of new direct government funding to develop a large-scale nuclear project announced in October.

UK households will pay almost triple the price to heat their homes this winter compared with a year ago, a jarring increase for millions of people already struggling to afford everyday essentials.

UK was facing a “catastrophic winter”, telling the BBC that half of all households could fall into fuel poverty without intervention.

Overall, the planned total capacity of the MBR solar park is 5 GW, to be reached by 2030.