nuclear-news

Last month, the country’s first new nuclear power station in a generation – at Hinkley Point – cleared a major hurdle after an agreement was reached between the European Commission and Whitehall.

But the news angered and dismayed opponents, including the Green Party, the Stop Hinkley Group and Greenpeace UK, who vowed that the fight against the EDF plant would go on.

Stop Hinkley have now written to competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia, corr who is in charge of state aid, urging him to reconsider and claiming that the subsidy deal had been “stitched up without any sort of competitive process”.

“If Hinkley Point C had been subjected to a proper competitive process it couldn’t possibly have progressed beyond the drawing board. “There are many far most cost effective ways to provide the heat and light we need in the UK at the same time as reducing carbon emissions.

“Please urgently reconsider this decision, and order the UK Government to subject the Hinkley proposals to a proper competitive process. “If you don’t you will be allowing UK consumers to be saddled with eye-wateringly high electricity bills for decades to come.”…….

EDF is still finalising its investment plans. Major backing has come from abroad with China General Nuclear Power Group and China National Nuclear Corporation investing 35-40%, EDF Energy 45-50% and Areva 10%…….http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Campaigners-bid-block-EU-deal-Hinkley/story-23039980-detail/story.html