Europe’s biggest energy firm, EDF, fuelled concerns about keeping Britain’s lights on after it was forced into a backdoor rights issue and failed to commit to the UK’s biggest nuclear project.
Lacking energy: Amber Rudd’s plans for Hinkley Point C are heavily reliant on French giant EdF’s flagging financial strength (Picture: AFP/Getty Images/Paul Dallimore)
The UK’s energy future was left up in the air after EDF dodged a decision on Hinkley Point C, the planned nuclear plant which will provide 7% of Britain’s electricity and employ 25,000 people by 2025.
The French giant said the first phase of construction would launch “very soon”, but failed to commit to a timescale or confirm whether it had funding in place, casting doubt on the future of the project.
“Hinkley Point C is a strong project which is fully ready for a final investment decision and successful construction. Final steps are well in hand to enable the full construction phase to be launched very soon,” it said.
Prime Minister David Cameron has been trying to smooth through the £18 billion construction costs of the plant in Somerset by wooing Chinese investors to back the project.