UK govt gives final nod for new $51 bn nuclear power plant
The British government on Tuesday gave a final nod to nuclear power plant Sizewell C after reaching a deal with investors, aiming to bolster its net-zero and energy security goals.
The government, the largest shareholder in the project, said Sizewell C, in eastern England, will cost around 38 billion pounds ($51 billion) to construct.
The project will also be funded by Canadian pension fund La Caisse, British Gas owner Centrica, Amber Infrastructure and French energy giant EDF.'It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again,' Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement.'Today we announce an investment that will provide clean, homegrown power to millions of homes for generations to come,' he added.
The plant, which has been in financial limbo for over a decade, is not expected to start generating electricity until the 2030s.
The projected construction cost of 38 billion pounds exceeds previous official estimates of 20 billion pounds to 30 billion pounds, and campaigners have warned that further cost overruns or delays could impact households.
The final investment decision gives the government a 44.9% stake in the project.
Among the new investors in Sizewell C, La Caisse holds a 20% stake, Centrica 15% and investment manager Amber Infrastructure an 'initial' 7.6%.
EDF announced earlier this month that it will take a 12.5% stake in the project, down from 16.2% ownership at the end of 2024.
The U.K. has refocused on shoring up nuclear power since the start of the war in Ukraine, in the name of energy security and faced with a fleet of ageing power stations.Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has also pledged by 2035 to reduce U.K. greenhouse gas emissions by 81% on 1990 levels, under plans to reach net-zero by 2050.
The use of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels is highly controversial, however, with many environmental groups warning about safety risks and the disposal of nuclear waste.
The plans for Sizewell C have been met with anger by some local residents worried about the impact of the new plant on the town of Leiston in Suffolk.
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