28 Jul (NucNet): The plan to build an £18bn nuclear station at Hinkley Point in the UK was hit with an unexpected delay on Thursday night as the government decided to hold a new review hours after EDF, the project’s state-owned French developer, gave it the go-ahead.
Greg Clark, the business and energy secretary, announced that ministers would once more review the project to build two EPR units at the site. His announcement came almost immediately after the EDF board had narrowly voted to approve the scheme.
Mr Clark said: “The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix. The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.”
The news came after EDF had given the go-ahead for the UK’s first nuclear power plant in 20 years, approving the Hinkley Point scheme at a board meeting on Thursday.
After the board meeting EDF said in a statement: “Following this decision, the conditions have been met to allow EDF to sign the contracts with the British Government, EDF’s historic partner China General Nuclear Power Generation (CGN), and the main suppliers of the project.”
The statement said: “At its meeting on 28 July 2016, EDF’s Board of Directors made the final investment decision and gave the President the authorisation to ensure its full execution in the framework of the signature process of all the contracts and agreements necessary to build the two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, in southwest England.”
Total construction costs to first operation are forecast to be £18bn (€21bn, $23bn), which includes inflation. The construction costs have remained stable in real terms since they were announced in October 2013, EDF said.
Hinkley Point C will provide 7% of the UK’s electricity over its estimated 60-year lifespan and is scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2025, several years later than planned. It will be the UK’s first new nuclear station since Sizewell B, which began commercial operation 20 years ago, in September 1995.
