26 Sept (NucNet): The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has reached an agreement with Electricite de France (EDF) for the joint marketing of land at its Wylfa, Bradwell and Oldbury sites.
This follows the announcement by EDF this week that it was making an approved offer to acquire British Energy for 12.5 billion pounds (23 billion US dollars, 15 billion euro) or 774 pence a share.
The NDA announced earlier this month that it was preparing an initial tranche of land sales at the three sites. Wylfa, in Wales, and Oldbury, in western England, both have two operational nuclear units. Electricity generation ended at Bradwell, in eastern England, in 2002 and the unit is being decommissioned.
In a statement yesterday the NDA said EDF has acquired “substantial land interests” around the NDA land at Wylfa and both the NDA and EDF have agreed that the simultaneous marketing of their land at Wylfa is more likely to secure “value for money” than doing so separately.
The agreement says the sale process should take place as soon as possible and anticipates that the NDA’s land at Oldbury and Bradwell will be sold at the same time.
The NDA said should EDF’s offer for British Energy not succeed then the agreement falls away.
NDA-owned land near Sellafield will be subject to a separate statement, given “the complex nature” of that site.
With its purchase of British Energy EDF will gain control of eight British nuclear plant sites with potential for building new reactors.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
British Energy ‘In Discussions With One Party’ (World Nuclear Review No. 28, 25 July 2008)
Proposal For Sale Of British Energy To EDF Is Rejected (World Nuclear Review No. 29, 1 August 2008)
EDF Confirms GBP 12.5 Billion Offer For British Energy (News No. 75, 24 September 2008)
