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UK’s Hinkley Point C Is Over Budget And Behind Schedule, Says EDF

By David Dalton
3 July 2017

UK’s Hinkley Point C Is Over Budget And Behind Schedule, Says EDF
A computer-generated image of the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear station in England. Photo courtesy EDF.

3 Jul (NucNet): The UK’s first nuclear power station for more than two decades is running billions of pounds over budget and more than a year behind schedule, EDF said on 3 July 2017. The French state-controlled utility said it has carried out a review of the project and costs for two new EPR units at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England, could climb £1.5bn to £19.6bn (€22.3bn, $25.5bn). The company said £1.5bn of the increase was due to “a better understanding” of the construction work needed and UK regulatory requirements. It is the second increase for the project. In 2015 the price climbed from £16bn to £18bn, reflecting the impact of inflation. EDF also confirmed that the first EPR – originally due to begin commercial operation in 2025 – risked running 15 months behind schedule. The second unit is estimated to be running nine months late. The estimated delay on the reactors would add a further £0.7bn in cost. EDF said it was still targeting a delivery date of the end of 2025, despite the estimated delay. UK-based EDF Energy is building two EPR units at Hinkley Point C. Construction of the actual reactor building for the first EPR is scheduled to begin in 2019. The two 1,600-MW units are expected to provide 7% of Britain’s electricity needs when fully operational, or enough to power six million homes. The UK’s National Audit Office said last month that The UK government’s deal for Hinkley Point C has locked consumers into a “risky and expensive” project with uncertain strategic and economic benefits.

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