DECC Consultation on Nuclear Liability

Originally published 14 February 2011

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change ("DECC") published on 18 January 2011 its public consultation on the "Implementation of changes to the Paris and Brussels Conventions on nuclear third party liability" (the "Consultation"). The Paris and Brussels Conventions are part of the international regime that aims to ensure that funds are available for compensation to injured parties in the event of a nuclear incident and to also encourage private investment in the nuclear industry by limiting the operator's liability. This is done by channelling nuclear-related liability to the operator, capping the operator's liability in time and amount and requiring the operator to maintain insurance or other financial security up to the capped limit.