Hinkley Point C station completion rescheduled after nuclear PR fallout
EDF Energy, the French energy giant behind the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, is issuing a revised timetable for completion after delays caused by the PR fallout that followed the Fukushima disaster.
The news follows accusations that the UK government is running a pro-nuclear campaign in the wake of the disaster.
EDF chief executive Vincent de Rivaz admitted that EDF would be revising its scheduling in order to await the government’s full report on the safety of nuclear power which is being conducted by Dr Mike Weightman:
"We recognise the need to adjust our timetable as necessary. On this as on all issues, we will not prejudge the final Weightman report,” he said in a statement.
He also conceded that this may affected the 2017 completion date for Hinkley Point C and stated that a revised timetable would be released in the autumn.
De Rivaz made the admission after praising the government’s “strong leadership” in ensuring the UK’s energy needs are not knocked off course by the Fukushima disaster.
Speaking at the Nuclear New Build conference in London, he said: “Post-Fukushima there will be improvements that will make us safer.”