Dounreay could once again become a major source of skilled employment and economic opportunity for the Far North if Scotland embraces a new generation of nuclear technology, according to Highland MP Jamie Stone.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross has called on the Scottish Government to reconsider its opposition to new nuclear power following a Westminster debate on Wednesday 14 October.

Stone believes the former nuclear research establishment near Thurso could provide an ideal location for a Small Modular Reactor, known as an SMR, building on decades of experience and expertise developed in Caithness.

His intervention follows a technical assessment published by Great British Energy Nuclear earlier this year which identified Dounreay among Scottish locations with potential for future nuclear development.

The assessment does not represent approval for a new reactor, but it has strengthened calls for the site to be considered as part of the UK’s future energy plans.

Dounreay has been central to the economy of Caithness since its establishment in the 1950s, attracting skilled workers, supporting local businesses and helping sustain communities across the Far North.

Although the site is now undergoing decommissioning, its nuclear expertise and specialist workforce remain important regional assets.

Stone believes a new reactor could provide another chapter in that history, creating employment opportunities while contributing to electricity generation.

He said:

“Dounreay was a godsend for the area.

“It not only halted Highland depopulation but reversed it.

“People were moving in and generations of local people found skilled work at the site while continuing to support their crofts and communities.

“The advent of Dounreay literally kept the lights on in the glens.

“None of us should ever forget that.

“Today, we have an opportunity to build on that legacy.

“Dounreay has a licensed site, a highly skilled workforce and a local population that would warmly welcome a Small Modular Reactor.

“Yet we continue to face a political roadblock.

“The Scottish Government must recognise that energy policy needs to reflect the practical opportunities available to Scotland today, rather than clinging to old policies that hold our Highland communities back.

“Supporting investment at Dounreay, creating skilled jobs and delivering affordable, reliable, low-carbon energy would be a far better use of the Scottish Government’s time compared to obsessing over the same constitutional arguments over and over again.”

The Scottish Government remains opposed to building new nuclear power stations, including Small Modular Reactors, citing concerns about radioactive waste and the unproven economic competitiveness of newer nuclear technologies.

Although nuclear energy regulation is largely reserved to Westminster, planning decisions remain an important responsibility of the Scottish Government.

David Green, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, has also backed calls to reconsider the potential for investment.

He said:

“With the UK Government committed to new nuclear, nuclear power will form part of our decarbonised energy mix across these islands.

“The question is whether the Scottish Government chooses to seize the opportunity to create jobs and attract investment here at home.

“I am therefore grateful to my colleagues for securing this debate.

“As Jamie Stone has said, Dounreay presents a real opportunity: it is a licensed site, has a highly skilled workforce, and is situated in a community that would warmly welcome a Small Modular Reactor (SMR).

“At the very least, the Scottish Government must recognise that the scale of investment in new nuclear south of the border creates opportunities for maximising skills and jobs in Scotland.

“The dependencies between decommissioning in the Far North and the development of new nuclear cannot be overlooked.”

No specific reactor project has been approved for Dounreay, and the scale of any future investment or employment benefits remains uncertain.

Nevertheless, the renewed debate places the future of a site that has shaped generations of Highland lives firmly back on the political agenda.