Theresa May folds again: Hinkley ‘C’ gets the go-ahead
![A CGI image of the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset [Image: EDF Energy/PA].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/160812-Hinkley-C.png)
A CGI image of the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset [Image: EDF Energy/PA].
Business secretary Greg Clark reckons the government is bringing in new security restrictions – but they seem weak. A ban on EDF being able to sell its interest without UK government approval? That’s not security – it’s commerce.
A new national security test for all foreign investment in critical infrastructure also seems toothless; China has already said it will not affect that country’s goal of developing its own plant at Bradwell in Essex and making a more active investment in Sizewell B in Suffolk.
According to Jean-Bernard Lévy, chief executive of EDF, the approval of Hinkley ‘C’ marks the “relaunch of nuclear in Europe”.
This is a step backwards – and a bitter blow for all those who have been working towards a greener, cleaner, forward-looking mode of energy generation.
Theresa May has given the £18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power station the go-ahead with “significant new safeguards” to make sure Chinese involvement does not threaten national security.
The controversial scheme in Somerset was approved six weeks after May unexpectedly placed the project under review, causing tensions with China.
Under the deal the major plant is to be built by EDF, the French state company, with £6bn investment from China, without any changes to the original price tag.
Both EDF and China General Nuclear said they were delighted by the approval, which will let them proceed with Hinkley and their wider plans for nuclear construction in the UK in future.
Following the reviews, the government is keeping a guaranteed price of £92.50 to EDF for every megawatt hour of electricity generated, despite concerns that is far higher than the market rate.
Source: Hinkley Point C nuclear power station gets government green light | UK news | The Guardian
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This is absolute madness. With the coming events in 2017 I cannot conceive that such stupidity could manifest. But I was wrong. At least with the Benthamite surveillance sought my Ms May for our UK Panopticon she will be able to monitor this disaster in minute detail.
Most of the wiser population will be dead before this crock of #### is built, safely tested and delivered by these nest of vipers. It feels like another replay of lets bail out the greedy bankers using the plebs tax money. Sure as hell the plebs will be paying this inflated useage cost so why worry better to have some much needed browny political points. And we all know who will pay when it goes wrong… the increased costs will just be paid by the taxpayer under the threat of the vipers walking away if they do not get their own way….or more likely we fall out with those nice inscrutable Chinese gentlement when they start taking over the world.. Surely the massive delays and cost escalation already being witnessed in other parts of Europe should have been enought to look for more economic and healthy alternatives……with this sort of budget anything would be better as there has been no mention of the massive clean up costs when it has reached its maximum life. Mother May has again falled after such a wise decision to think carefully about such a megga decision that effects everyone in the UK but dutifully she’s fallen into line as yet another ordinary short term thinking Con merchant. She will be remembered well when and if this ever comes to fruition or an alternative fuel is discovered that makes this dangerous bit of untried kit a worthless piece of very expensive junk.
Don’t call her ‘Mother’ May. She is nothing like a mother.
Odds are that it will never get built. The two other such reactors in Europe remain only half built and are overbudget already. Anyway, how come the French have all this money? The French Govt part owns EDF and I keep ready that the French economy is in a bad state. As for the Chinese, again isn’t their economy shrinking?