François Hollande has renewed his support for the controversial nuclear project planned by the French energy company EDF at Hinkley Point in Britain. “I am in favour that this project goes ahead,” the French president told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday. “It’s very important to understand that we need a high-performance, highly secure nuclear industry in France, and that we cannot let others take over terrain, including on exports, that has been French up to now,” he said.
Guardian 17th May 2016 read more »
France24 17th May 2016 read more »
City AM 17th May 2016 read more »
The French government has reiterated its support for EDF’s plan to build an £18 billion nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Speaking less than a week after S&P and Moody’s downgraded the credit rating of EDF over the impact of Hinkley Point on the company’s shaky finances, President Hollande expressed his backing for the scheme, which he said would protect French jobs and exports. EDF is struggling with debts of 37 billion euros and its market value has shrivelled to 22 billion, down from more than 100 billion in 2007. Critics of the project to build two French- designed EPR reactors at Hinkley Point fear that it could bankrupt EDF. Projects to build the same type of reactor in Finland and at Flamanville in Normandy have run billions of pounds over budget and are years behind schedule. Mr Hollande said that France would push ahead with a 4 billion refinancing of EDF, which is expected to include the sale of state stakes in Renault and airports at Nice and Lyons.
Times 18th May 2016 read more »
Stop Hinkley Campaign calls for a renewables Plan B for Hinkley.
No2NuclearPower 17th May 2016 read more »