Chris Huhne has reiterated the government’s support for a massive programme of new nuclear reactors, after the plans were given the all clear by an investigation into potential safety risks commissioned in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) today issued the final assessment from chief nuclear inspector Dr Mike Weightman who travelled to Japan to inspect the Fukushima site after publishing an interim report in May.

That report contained 26 action points for the UK nuclear industry, but crucially did not impose any restrictions on the government’s £50bn plans to build 16GW of new nuclear capacity.

Today’s report adds several further recommendations, including a proposal for reviews of plant and site layouts of both existing and planned facilities to ensure that safety systems “have adequate robustness against severe flooding and other extreme external events”.

However, in a widely anticipated boost to the UK’s nuclear plans, Weightman’s earlier findings are restated.

“I remain confident that our UK nuclear facilities have no fundamental safety weaknesses,” Weightman said in a statement accompanying the report, to which the government will provide a detailed response by the end of the year.

“But we are not complacent. Our philosophy is one of continuous improvement. No matter how high our standards, the quest for improvement must never stop. We will ensure lessons are learned from Fukushima. Action has already been taken in many cases, with work under way to further enhance safety at UK sites.”

The earthquake and tsunami in March that breached the Fukushima power plant have had far-reaching effects, prompting Germany and Switzerland to pull out of nuclear altogether and others, including China and India, to reconsider their plans.

UK-based utility Scottish and Southern Energy and German giant Siemens have also abandoned the technology.

Green groups have argued nations can produce sufficient power from renewable energy sources and the review did nothing to convince Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth’s energy campaigner.

“This report does nothing to alter the Alice-in-Wonderland economics of nuclear power - it’s a gamble we don’t need to take,” he said in a statement.

“Getting tough on energy waste and plugging in to the UK’s vast green power potential will meet our energy needs and build the new job and business opportunities our economy is crying out for.”

Despite the criticism, the UK government has long insisted nuclear is part of its future low carbon electricity mix.

And in a statement to Parliament outlining the report, energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne, today confirmed nuclear would play a major role in the UK’s energy future.

“New nuclear can be part of a low carbon energy mix in the UK,” Huhne said. “Nuclear energy is important for our energy security now and we want it to be part of the mix in the future.

“Dr Weightman sees no reason to curtail the operation of power plants or other nuclear facilities in the UK. He believes the industry has reacted responsibly and appropriately, displaying strong leadership for safety and safety culture.

By Will Nichols