FRENCH energy giant EDF has reiterated support for its delayed new nuclear power station in Somerset – although a long-awaited final investment decision is still to be made. EDF has been consulting with unions in France, some of which have voiced concern about the financial impact of the £18 billion project to build Hinkley Point C, on the company. The firm’s Central Committee met on Monday at the end of the consultation, with unions deciding not to issue an opinion. A statement said: “EDF relies on sensitivity studies already communicated to staff representatives and considers this vote does not change the fundamentals of the project, nor the desire of players to engage in it.”
Somerset County Gazette 4th July 2016 read more »
French energy company EDF has repeated its support for the new nuclear power station at Hinkley, even though a final investment decision for the £18 billion plant is still to be made. French unions had expressed their concerns over the impact of the project. The director of Greenpeace comments that, in the wake of Brexit, it would be foolish to pursue the deal. He says the Government should be thinking in terms of renewable energy as a Plan B.
ITV 4th July 2016 read more »
Energy Voice 4th July 2016 read more »
Bosses at French energy giant EDF say they have “full confidence” in pressing on with the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project, despite new headwinds from the Brexit vote last month. In a statement today that marks the end of a consultation with its works council of employee representatives, the company affirmed its positive stance on the development and said the vote for the UK to leave the European Union is “no barrier”, Reuters reports. EDF said it could now proceed to make a final investment decision, to be approved by a vote of its board in September. The comments contradict a series of reports that the Brexit vote had created a new set of obstacles for the already controversial plans. On Friday, The Guardian reported the EDF board was “fracturing… as former supporters of the project worry about Brexit”.
The Week 4th July 2016 read more »
Express 4th July 2016 read more »
[Machine Translation] The central committee of EDF company decided Monday not to issue an opinion on this controversial project, because it was not sufficiently informed. Leaders now push for a quick signature. While EDF unions are fighting for months to push the English EPR project, the central works council (CEC) of the group finally decided on Monday … not to pronounce on the subject. EDF management had launched a consultation with staff representatives on this process two EPR construction project at Hinkley Point in southwest England. “Elected officials of the CEC, mostly, considered that they were not in ability to motivate and give their opinion,” said the secretary of the CEC Jean-Luc Magnaval. A reminder that EDF did not play the game of consultation until the end, according to the CEC. “At the end of the meeting this [Monday] morning, delegations of CGT staff representatives, FO and CFE-CGC approved a resolution saying do not be able to issue an opinion on the project. The representatives of the CFDT staff abstained, “said his side EDF in a statement.
Les Echos 4th July 2016 read more »