Torness nuclear power station in East Lothian has faced an emergency shut-down, possibly for several weeks, due to a leaking coolant pipe.

It was claimed the reactor is not affected by the leak, and no radioactive material goes near the ruptured hydrogen pipe, but that plant owners British Energy take measures to shut down the operation completely if there is any concern about the the cooling process.

The shutdown last Saturday, described by a company insider as "not likely to last as long as months", adds to the problems at Hunterston in North Ayrshire which has seen it operating at 70% of its capacity. It feeds concerns about Scotland being able to meet its own electricity demand if it does not have a reliable source of nuclear generation, once Torness and Hunterston are decommissioned. The Ayrshire plant is due to close in 2016 while Torness is scheduled to keep operating until 2023.

The SNP administration, with LibDem support, has set itself against a new generation of nuclear power plants in Scotland. The Westminster government, however, has warned more plants will be necessary to ensure security of power supply.

SNP Lothians MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville commented on the Torness shut-down that the country would be better to focus on developing renewable energy: "This just proves that nuclear power is unreliable and is not delivering our energy needs. We don't need to create a bigger legacy of radioactive waste that burdens future generations."

British Energy is the subject of takeover talks, possibly including the government selling its 35% share.