The French energy giant EDF is expected to make its long-awaited final investment decision on a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset next week. The company says it has called a board meeting for 28 July and the investment decision is on the agenda. BBC correspondent John Moylan said the firm’s board is expected to give the plant the go-ahead.
BBC 22nd July 2016 read more »
Sky News 22nd July 2016 read more »
ITV 21st July 2016 read more »
EDF will finally decide whether to proceed with a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset next week. The French government-controlled energy giant said on Thursday night that its board of directors would meet on Thursday 28 July. The final investment decision on whether to build two reactors at Hinkley Point is on the agenda for the meeting. The business and energy secretary, Greg Clark, said: “New nuclear is an essential part of our plan for a secure, clean and affordable energy system that will power the economy throughout this century. This is a welcome decision from EDF, and we look forward to the outcome.”
Guardian 22nd July 2016 read more »
EDF will make its long-delayed final investment decision on whether to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset next week, the company has announced. The French utility said on Thursday night it would hold a board meeting next Thursday at which it would take the final decision, which was originally expected early in the year. The company said in a statement: “The two 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.
FT 21st July 2016 read more »
Bloomberg 21st July 2016 read more »
French utility EDF called a board meeting for July 28 that will consider a final investment decision on its 18 billion pound ($24 billion) Hinkley Point C nuclear project in Britain, the company said on Thursday. The project to build two next-generation EPR nuclear reactors has divided opinion in France at a time when EDF’s finances are severely stretched already by its absorption of loss-making nuclear plant builder Areva. In a statement, EDF said that if approved, the first concrete for the reactors, scheduled for mid-2019, would coincide perfectly with the start-up of its other EPR project in Flamanville, northern France, scheduled for the end of 2018. The Flamanville project is years behind schedule and billions over budget already. But ensuring skilled nuclear engineers can move on to another project quickly is key for EDF to retain staff and know-how.
Reuters 21st July 2016 read more »
The surprise board meeting comes after French economy minister Emmanuel Macron suggested the final decision on building the Hinkley Point nuclear plant would be pushed back to September, almost three years after the UK government first agreed to financially support the plans. Newly appointed business and energy secretary Greg Clark said in a statement that he looks forward to the outcome of the board meeting. “New nuclear is an essential part of our plan for a secure, clean and affordable energy system that will power the economy throughout this century. “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,” he added.
Telegraph 21 July 2016 read more »
EDF has moved a step closer towards approving its £18 billion project to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point by calling a board meeting to consider a final investment decision. Company directors will meet next Thursday to make a final judgment on whether to proceed with their plans to build two nuclear reactors in Somerset. In 2013 officials agreed to pay EDF a guaranteed £92.50 for every megawatt-hour of energy, indexed to inflation, for 35 years from the moment the station enters service. At the time average wholesale power prices were about £54 per megawatt-hour. They have since fallen sharply to about £43 per megawatt-hour this month.
Times 22nd July 2016 read more »
EDF has today called a meeting of its Board of Directors which will be held on 28 July 2016. The agenda includes the final investment decision for the construction of two EPR reactors at Hinkley PointC (HPC) in the south-west of England. The HPC Project is a major element of the Group’s CA 2030 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. HPC would also enable the Group to mobilise all its significant nuclear engineering skills following the final investment decision. The first concrete of reactor 1 of HPC, scheduled for mid-2019, would coincide with perfect continuity with the start-up of the EPR at Flamanville, scheduled for the end of 2018.
EDF 21st July 2016 read more »