News: Nuclear AMRC welcomes Government go-ahead for Hinkley
The Nuclear AMRC has welcomed the announcement from the Government that it has reached an agreement in principle with EDF regarding two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
With state of the art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative with industry, The University of Sheffield and The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute, and is designed to help build and enhance the UK's civil nuclear new build industry.
The two Areva EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C (HPC) will strengthen EDF's presence in the UK, where its subsidiary EDF Energy already operates 15 nuclear reactors and is the UK's largest electricity supplier by volume. With a combined capacity of 3.2GW, the two HPC EPRs will provide around 7% of the UK's electricity demand.
EDF's board committed to invest in the project in July and following a review, the Government said it has reached an agreement in principle with EDF, and will impose a new legal framework for future foreign investment in nuclear power stations and other critical infrastructure.
Advertisement
Mike Tynan, CEO at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "This is a landmark decision by British government and demonstrates a real commitment to the future of civil nuclear power in the UK.
"I very much welcome the government commitment to take a specific stakeholder interest in nuclear new build projects. I'm certain that this will provide additional confidence to project developers and maintain momentum on projects for new nuclear power stations on Anglesey in Wales, and in West Cumbria.
"The creation of thousands of jobs in the nuclear industry and its supply chain represents lasting economic value for the UK and is good news on both a regional and national basis. Our challenge now is to support project developers and their supply chains to ensure that these new power stations are built safely, and to time and cost. I very much look forward to electricity on the grid from EDF Hinkley Point C in the mid-2020s."
The agreement in principle means that the UK government will be able to prevent the sale of EDF's controlling stake prior to the completion of construction, without the prior notification and agreement of ministers. Existing legal powers, and the new legal framework, will mean that the Government is able to intervene in the sale of EDF's stake once Hinkley is operational.
The new legal framework for future foreign investment in British critical infrastructure means that, after Hinkley Point C, the UK government will take a special share in all future nuclear new build projects. This will ensure that significant stakes cannot be sold without the government's knowledge or consent.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation will also be directed to require notice from developers or operators of nuclear sites of any change of ownership or part-ownership.
The government says these changes will bring Britain's policy framework for the ownership and control of critical infrastructure into line with other major economies.
Around £1.5 billion worth of contracts were provisionally placed with UK companies ahead of the final investment decision. Preferred bidders include Rolls-Royce, Laing O'Rourke, Alstom and Balfour Beatty Bailey.
EDF estimates the construction cost of Hinkley Point C at £18 billion. It expects UK companies to be awarded contracts worth more than 60% of the project's construction value.
The Nuclear AMRC works with UK manufacturers along the supply chain to help them become more competitive, including focused supplier development support through the Fit For Nuclear and Civil Nuclear Sharing in Growth programmes.
Nuclear AMRC website
Images: EDF Energy
With state of the art facilities on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative with industry, The University of Sheffield and The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute, and is designed to help build and enhance the UK's civil nuclear new build industry.
The two Areva EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C (HPC) will strengthen EDF's presence in the UK, where its subsidiary EDF Energy already operates 15 nuclear reactors and is the UK's largest electricity supplier by volume. With a combined capacity of 3.2GW, the two HPC EPRs will provide around 7% of the UK's electricity demand.
EDF's board committed to invest in the project in July and following a review, the Government said it has reached an agreement in principle with EDF, and will impose a new legal framework for future foreign investment in nuclear power stations and other critical infrastructure.
Advertisement
Mike Tynan, CEO at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "This is a landmark decision by British government and demonstrates a real commitment to the future of civil nuclear power in the UK.
"I very much welcome the government commitment to take a specific stakeholder interest in nuclear new build projects. I'm certain that this will provide additional confidence to project developers and maintain momentum on projects for new nuclear power stations on Anglesey in Wales, and in West Cumbria.
"The creation of thousands of jobs in the nuclear industry and its supply chain represents lasting economic value for the UK and is good news on both a regional and national basis. Our challenge now is to support project developers and their supply chains to ensure that these new power stations are built safely, and to time and cost. I very much look forward to electricity on the grid from EDF Hinkley Point C in the mid-2020s."
The agreement in principle means that the UK government will be able to prevent the sale of EDF's controlling stake prior to the completion of construction, without the prior notification and agreement of ministers. Existing legal powers, and the new legal framework, will mean that the Government is able to intervene in the sale of EDF's stake once Hinkley is operational.
The new legal framework for future foreign investment in British critical infrastructure means that, after Hinkley Point C, the UK government will take a special share in all future nuclear new build projects. This will ensure that significant stakes cannot be sold without the government's knowledge or consent.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation will also be directed to require notice from developers or operators of nuclear sites of any change of ownership or part-ownership.
The government says these changes will bring Britain's policy framework for the ownership and control of critical infrastructure into line with other major economies.
Around £1.5 billion worth of contracts were provisionally placed with UK companies ahead of the final investment decision. Preferred bidders include Rolls-Royce, Laing O'Rourke, Alstom and Balfour Beatty Bailey.
EDF estimates the construction cost of Hinkley Point C at £18 billion. It expects UK companies to be awarded contracts worth more than 60% of the project's construction value.
The Nuclear AMRC works with UK manufacturers along the supply chain to help them become more competitive, including focused supplier development support through the Fit For Nuclear and Civil Nuclear Sharing in Growth programmes.
Nuclear AMRC website
Images: EDF Energy
0 comments:
Post a Comment