The Irish public is being asked for its views on the potential impact of a proposed nuclear power station in the east of England. The nuclear facility in Suffolk, known as Sizewell C, is backed by EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group and will take between nine and 12 years to construct. Once completed it will have an operational life of 60 years before it is decommissioned. The UK planning authority has reviewed the planning application for the power station and concluded that it is “not likely” to have any “significant adverse transboundary effects” on Ireland. Under UN and EU law, countries are required to engage in “transboundary” public consultation processes where a project is likely to have significant effects on the environment of neighbouring states. Each planning authority in Ireland has received a notice of this consultation process, and members of the public and other interested parties have until October 28 to give their views. Sky News reported last week that there was no guarantee the station would go ahead, with negotiations still to take place over how much the UK would set aside to support the construction of the plant.
Times 29th Sept 2020 read more »
EDF chair Jean-Bernard Lévy will this week demand clarity from chancellor Rishi Sunak regarding Britain’s plans for funding nuclear power. According to The Times, Lévy is expected to speak to Sunak via video link on Wednesday. It comes after developer Horizon Nuclear Power withdrew from the £20bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant on Anglesey this month. Enabling work at the site was suspended in January 2019 after Hitachi, the parent company of Horizon, pulled funding over cost concerns and lack of investors.
New Civil Engineer 29th Sept 2020 read more »