Hinkley Point C losing power as government delays decision on £18bn project

Hinkley crisis deepens

Theresa May’s plan for a review of Hinkley Point C project will delay the £18bn project further, experts have warned.

In a shock move yesterday, the PM announced a delay to the project hours after EDF’s approved the project by 10 votes to seven.

Greg Clark, the new Business and Energy Secretary, said: “The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix. The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.”

Tom Greatrex, the chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said the delays will cost the UK in the long run.

“We need to get on and do this and that’s why I’m hoping the government make their decision very soon because if it goes on for a lengthy period of time we are going to run the risk of having real problems in terms of our energy supplies,” he said.

“Then what happens is that we end up paying a lot more and we end up paying for much more dirty power which we can’t afford to do if we are to meet our climate commitments.”

Claire Jacobson, head of climate, energy and environment policy at the EEF manufacturers’ organisation said the government’s decision was “yet another blow to a decision that has been hindered by many delays and uncertainties”.