Nick Butler: Stake in nuclear plant would be dramatic change of policy for UK. After last Monday’s meeting the Hitachi chief executive said no decision has been taken. At that stage the deal appeared to involve simply a UK government guarantee to cover the construction phase. But within days it was reported that Britain had decided to make a direct investment of public money. This would be a dramatic change of policy with many implications. A reversal of 40 years of privatisation. It opens up issues about competition. Then there is the question of the use of resources. No extra money for the NHS but suddenly billions for a new nuclear station. Costs of alternatives are falling. The Japanese will discover the UK Government is weak and nothing is certain in British politics. Hitachi is one of the world’s great companies and a significant investor in Britain. The Wylfa project is sound and far more likely to be built on time and to budget than Hinkley Point, EDF’s ill-starred nuclear power station that is 10 years behind schedule and billions overspent. Wylfa is well run and the technology works — unlike the over-complex Hinkley EPR reactor.
FT 4th June 2018 read more »
The UK Government will this week land taxpayers with a huge bill by agreeing to bankroll a £15 billion nuclear power station on Anglesey, amid highlighting huge splits in opposition Welsh political parties, it has emerged.
The Eye Wales 3rd June 2018 read more »