This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/22/hinkley-point-c-nuclear-project

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Hinkley Point C nuclear project expected to get go-ahead next week Hinkley Point C nuclear project expected to get go-ahead next week
(about 1 month later)
The Hinkley Point C nuclear project is poised to get the go-ahead from EDF next week in what will be a major boost to a new government trying to steady nerves on the economy after the British vote to leave the European Union last month.The Hinkley Point C nuclear project is poised to get the go-ahead from EDF next week in what will be a major boost to a new government trying to steady nerves on the economy after the British vote to leave the European Union last month.
A board meeting of the French energy group on Thursday 28 July is expected to give a final investment decision in favour of building new reactors in Somerset despite internal divisions over the £18bn scheme.A board meeting of the French energy group on Thursday 28 July is expected to give a final investment decision in favour of building new reactors in Somerset despite internal divisions over the £18bn scheme.
The decision has been repeatedly postponed, partly because of pressure from trade unionists on the board of the partly state-owned French group who claim EDF cannot afford the cost and risk of such a massive project in the UK.The decision has been repeatedly postponed, partly because of pressure from trade unionists on the board of the partly state-owned French group who claim EDF cannot afford the cost and risk of such a massive project in the UK.
But Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF’s chief executive, has the support of the British government to press ahead with a scheme that represents an important shop window for selling nuclear technology and expertise worldwide.But Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF’s chief executive, has the support of the British government to press ahead with a scheme that represents an important shop window for selling nuclear technology and expertise worldwide.
EDF said it would discuss Hinkley Point C (HPC) – which involves building two so-called European pressurised reactors (EPR) – at its forthcoming board meeting and underlined the importance of building in Britain.EDF said it would discuss Hinkley Point C (HPC) – which involves building two so-called European pressurised reactors (EPR) – at its forthcoming board meeting and underlined the importance of building in Britain.
“The HPC project is a major element of the group’s … strategy. The two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point would strengthen EDF’s presence in Britain, a country where its subsidiary EDF Energy already operates 15 nuclear reactors and is the largest electricity supplier by volume.”“The HPC project is a major element of the group’s … strategy. The two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point would strengthen EDF’s presence in Britain, a country where its subsidiary EDF Energy already operates 15 nuclear reactors and is the largest electricity supplier by volume.”
Related: Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant decision delayed again by EDF
EDF would not publicly commit itself to a decision in favour of the project, but nuclear industry sources said all company preparations were being made as if it was a done deal. “We are all expecting the go ahead next week,” the sources said.EDF would not publicly commit itself to a decision in favour of the project, but nuclear industry sources said all company preparations were being made as if it was a done deal. “We are all expecting the go ahead next week,” the sources said.
The timing could not be better for the UK government, which regards Hinkley as a flagship energy scheme despite criticism from the City about its massive cost.The timing could not be better for the UK government, which regards Hinkley as a flagship energy scheme despite criticism from the City about its massive cost.
EDF insists it can build the project for £18bn but a complex system of subsidies agreed by the former chancellor, George Osborne, could cost the consumer up to £37bn, according to a recent estimate published on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) website.EDF insists it can build the project for £18bn but a complex system of subsidies agreed by the former chancellor, George Osborne, could cost the consumer up to £37bn, according to a recent estimate published on the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) website.
His successor, Philip Hammond, has seized on a decision by a Japanese company to buy one of Britain’s leading technology companies, ARM, for £24bn as an example that the UK was still attractive to foreign investors.His successor, Philip Hammond, has seized on a decision by a Japanese company to buy one of Britain’s leading technology companies, ARM, for £24bn as an example that the UK was still attractive to foreign investors.
But Hinkley would be a much clearer vote of confidence by France and its Chinese partners and it should encourage other foreign nuclear companies such as Toshiba of Japan to press ahead with their own reactor plans.But Hinkley would be a much clearer vote of confidence by France and its Chinese partners and it should encourage other foreign nuclear companies such as Toshiba of Japan to press ahead with their own reactor plans.
New capacity is needed to generate electricity in the UK at a time when old atomic and coal plants are being retired and there are fears of the lights going out.New capacity is needed to generate electricity in the UK at a time when old atomic and coal plants are being retired and there are fears of the lights going out.
Related: Leave vote makes UK's transition to clean energy harder, say experts
Greg Clark, the business and energy secretary, said: “It’s clear that we are open for business as we come closer to sealing the deal on this major investment in British infrastructure and British jobs.Greg Clark, the business and energy secretary, said: “It’s clear that we are open for business as we come closer to sealing the deal on this major investment in British infrastructure and British jobs.
“This is a welcome decision [to hold a board meeting] from EDF, and we look forward to the outcome.”“This is a welcome decision [to hold a board meeting] from EDF, and we look forward to the outcome.”
Critics remained vocal. “It’s right that the UK should remain open for business but handing billions of energy bill payers money over to the French government for an outdated technology makes no business sense,” said John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK.Critics remained vocal. “It’s right that the UK should remain open for business but handing billions of energy bill payers money over to the French government for an outdated technology makes no business sense,” said John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK.
“A possible final investment decision next week will only show that high-level post-truth politics trumps good sense. The type of reactor EDF wants to build at Hinkley hasn’t yet been shown to work.“A possible final investment decision next week will only show that high-level post-truth politics trumps good sense. The type of reactor EDF wants to build at Hinkley hasn’t yet been shown to work.
“For UK bill payers, the rationale for a massively over-priced power station like Hinkley has long since disappeared but all the key players are too embarrassed to stop it.”“For UK bill payers, the rationale for a massively over-priced power station like Hinkley has long since disappeared but all the key players are too embarrassed to stop it.”
But Unite was supportive. Kevin Coyne, the union’s energy officer, said: “It has been a long journey, but we are within sight of the promised land – the making of the final investment decision for the Somerset plant.But Unite was supportive. Kevin Coyne, the union’s energy officer, said: “It has been a long journey, but we are within sight of the promised land – the making of the final investment decision for the Somerset plant.
“The go-ahead is desperately needed on a number of grounds – to help keep the lights on in Britain in the decades ahead and as a fulcrum for the creation of thousands of jobs and related economic activity in the West Country.”“The go-ahead is desperately needed on a number of grounds – to help keep the lights on in Britain in the decades ahead and as a fulcrum for the creation of thousands of jobs and related economic activity in the West Country.”