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EDF board member calls for Hinkley Point C project to be postponed EDF board member calls for Hinkley Point C project to be postponed
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An EDF board member has called for the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to be postponed, in the latest sign of discord at the top of the French energy company over the troubled project . An EDF board member has called for the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to be postponed, in the latest sign of discord at the top of the French energy company over the troubled project.
Christian Taxil said a raft of changes to the Somerset reactor scheme agreed over the last three years significantly raise the risk for EDF, while a promise to commission the plant within 72 months of concrete being poured was “not credible”. Christian Taxil said a raft of changes to the Somerset reactor scheme agreed over the past three years significantly raised the risk for EDF, while a promise to commission the plant within 72 months of concrete being poured was “not credible”.
Taxil, the first EDF board member to go public with his concerns, added: “Today, I can only say that the conditions do not exist for me to give a positive opinion if such a project was submitted to me.” Taxil, the first EDF board member to go public with his concerns, added: “Today I can only say that the conditions do not exist for me to give a positive opinion if such a project was submitted to me.”
The blow from the employee director, who is sponsored by the CFE-CGC trade union, came after the publication in the Financial Times on Wednesday (£) of an advice note from senior engineers saying that the plant should be redesigned and the 2025 start date put back to 2027.The blow from the employee director, who is sponsored by the CFE-CGC trade union, came after the publication in the Financial Times on Wednesday (£) of an advice note from senior engineers saying that the plant should be redesigned and the 2025 start date put back to 2027.
The dissent follows weeks of behind-the-scenes bickering and the resignation of the finance director, Thomas Piquemal, despite continual promises from the chief executive of EDF, Jean-Bernard Lévy, that the controversial project will go ahead. The dissent follows weeks of behind the scenes bickering and the resignation of the finance director, Thomas Piquemal, despite continual promises from the chief executive of EDF, Jean-Bernard Lévy, that the controversial project will go ahead.
A final investment decision has yet to be taken but Vincent de Rivaz, the head of EDF Energy, the UK arm of the business, said he was working on a target date set by French ministers of mid-May.A final investment decision has yet to be taken but Vincent de Rivaz, the head of EDF Energy, the UK arm of the business, said he was working on a target date set by French ministers of mid-May.
EDF dismissed the latest rows, saying that it was well known that the unions, who only hold six out of the 18 places on the board, are opposed to Hinkley, while the criticism of the engineers was contained in a paper that was not taken to the board. EDF dismissed the latest rows, saying that it was well known that the unions, who only hold six out of the 18 places on the board, are opposed to Hinkley, while the criticism from the engineers was contained in a paper that was not taken to the board.
“The date for the first operation of Hinkley Point C has not changed. It will be 2025,” the company, which is 85% owned by the state, said in a statement. It later went on to angrily dismiss “unfounded rumours and fantasy information” in the media. “The date for the first operation of Hinkley Point C has not changed. It will be 2025,” the company, which is 85% owned by the state, said. It later went on to angrily dismiss “unfounded rumours and fantasy information” in the media.
EDF is still in the middle of negotiations with the French government over further funding having been financially hurt by falling power prices, cost overruns on other projects, and demands to upgrade French reactors to make them safer. EDF is in the middle of negotiations with the French government over further funding, having been financially hurt by falling power prices, cost overruns on other projects, and demands to upgrade French reactors to make them safer.
All six union members on the EDF board are expected to vote against Hinkley when it finally comes to a vote. They believe that it is too expensive and a risk to the company’s future given the scale of the company’s debts.All six union members on the EDF board are expected to vote against Hinkley when it finally comes to a vote. They believe that it is too expensive and a risk to the company’s future given the scale of the company’s debts.
While some non-union board members have voiced doubts about the project in private, all are expected to vote with the management when – as expected – the board meets on 11 May to make a final decision on the project.While some non-union board members have voiced doubts about the project in private, all are expected to vote with the management when – as expected – the board meets on 11 May to make a final decision on the project.
Two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley has been heavily promoted by the UK chancellor, George Osborne, and other ministers as key to keeping the lights on in Britain. The last of the UK’s coal-fired power stations will be closed under government diktat in 2025. Developing two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley has been heavily promoted by the UK chancellor, George Osborne, and other ministers as key to keeping the lights on in Britain. The last of the UK’s coal-fired power stations will be closed under government diktat in 2025.