ABSTRACT
At the outset of the United Kingdom civil nuclear programme, nuclear electricity from the early Magnox stations was expected to be significantly dearer than that from coal. Figures of 50%1 and 33%2 dearer were quoted in the late 1950s and the 1960 White Paper. Nevertheless the Magnox reactor programme was launched because of fears about oil and coal supplies and confidence in the longer-term potential and economic prospects of the nuclear option. In 1953 Magnox electricity costs were expected to be about 1 d/ kWh (3.1 p/kWh in decimal currency at October 1981 value).
