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Boris Johnson has announced he wants to build a new nuclear power station every year to reduce Britain's dependence on fossil fuels - including oil and gas supplied by Russia.
The surprise admission came following the Prime Minister's visit to Hartlepool nuclear power station in Hartlepool.
The station, which began producing electricity in 1983, is due to close in 2024. However, Hartlepool has been designated as one of eight sites the government has set its sights on for future nuclear energy plants.
The Prime Minister tweeted: 'Nuclear power stations like the one I visited in Hartlepool today are absolutely crucial to weaning us off fossil fuels, including Russian oil and gas.
'Instead of a new one every decade, we’re going to build one every year, powering homes with clean, safe and reliable energy.'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured earlier today meeting apprentices at Hartlepool Power Station on top of the reactor
The government's energy security strategy unveiled last month focuses heavily on nuclear and offshore wind power.
The strategy proposes to build up to eight nuclear plants to generate around a quarter of projected electricity demand by 2050.
The ambitious plan include a target to create 95 per cent of Britain’s electricity from nuclear and renewable sources by 2030 – up from 55 per cent at present.
The Government hopes the strategy will make Britain a net energy
