EDF: Nuclear plans still on track, but Chinese and UK government support vital

The creation of security cleared nuclear sector jobs relies on a suitable framework being in place to support the erection of new plants, EDF Energy’s chief executive has indicated.

Vincent De Rivaz said that EDF’s plans to build four new nuclear plants in the UK would not be jeopardised by the withdrawal of partner Centrica from the project.

The French energy giant is instead currently in talks with a number of Chinese energy companies about the possibility of their filling this void.

Yet Mr De Rivaz also told the Financial Times that finding a replacement for Centrica would be dependent on the government introducing a contract for difference, whereby the amounts energy firms are paid for generating nuclear power is fixed regardless of fluctuations in energy prices.

He told the newspaper that “the ball is in [the government’s] court” and that, once the contracts for difference had been implemented, “we’ll have a compelling investment case to attract partners into the project”.

The implications for the creation of counter terrorist check cleared jobs are highlighted by a 2011 CITB-Construction Skills report which estimated that 17,000 construction workers would be required to build the next generation of UK nuclear builds.

http://www.securityclearedjobs.com/news/news/edf-nuclear-plans-still-on-track-but-government-support-vital

February 9, 2013 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized