Government need to make quick decision on Hinkley, says NIA
Following the Government's decision to delay Hinkley Point C, the Nuclear Industry Association has called on new ministers to move quickly.
The Government has been urged to make a quick decision on Hinkley Point, Britain’s first nuclear power plant for a generation, following the news it will postpone its final signatures on the contract until early autumn.
The Nuclear Industry Association called on ministers to quickly endorse the scheme to show they are serious about industrial strategy.
Last night Business Secretary Greg Clark revealed the Government will “consider carefully” whether to go ahead with the £18bn Hinkley Point project in Somerset.
His surprise announcement came just hours after French firm EDF finally agreed to go ahead with the long-awaited scheme. Contracts on the deal were set to be signed today, but the Government's announcement has put the supply chain on hold.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association said: “The Government’s decision to take longer to look at the contract do not change the fundamentals – that by 2030, two thirds of our electricity generation capacity will have retired, and we need to replace it with low carbon and reliable power for the future to improve our energy security and meet our commitments on carbon emissions targets.
“The most important thing is that the board of EDF and its investors have the finance in place to enable them to give the go ahead for the project and that is very good news. We have a strong UK supply chain which has built up its capability and has trained people so they are able to build and operate Hinkley Point C.
“We now need the new ministers to quickly endorse the decision to show they are serious about industrial strategy, building new infrastructure by securing inward investment to create our low carbon energy supplies of the future.”
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