nuclear-news

UK govt – secret nuclear deals over “champagne and croissants.”?

EDF Denies U.K. Nuclear Deal to Be Sealed in ‘Smoke-Filled Room’, Bloomberg News By Sally Bakewell   October 23, 2012    Electricite de France SA rejected criticism that its one-to-one talks with the U.K. over the deal it’ll get to build nuclear plants in the country means officials setting rates in a “smoke-filled room” without open scrutiny…..

Bilateral talks between the French supplier and the U.K. have been criticized by SSE Chief Executive Officer Ian Marchant as taking place over “champagne and croissants.”

Energy Secretary Ed Davey will set final proposals before lawmakers
next month to overhaul the market including plans for so-called
contracts for difference guaranteeing power prices. A law, published
in draft form in May, plans to curb the risk of building reactors and
renewable-energy projects as Britain seeks about 110 billion pounds
($175 billion) of investment for grid upgrades and to replace aging
power stations by 2020….. The company may look later at a 40
billion-pound Treasury loan-guarantee program announced by Chancellor
of the Exchequer George Osborne in July to spur spending on U.K.
infrastructure projects and exports, Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, managing
director for EDF’s nuclear new build, said at the same hearing.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-23/edf-affirms-year-end-u-dot-k-dot-nuclear-decision-needs-compeling-case

October 24, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK