21/10/2013

Go-Ahead For Somerset Nuclear Power Plant

The government have given the go-ahead for a new nuclear power station to be built in Somerset.

The £16bn Hinkley Point C plant will be operated by a consortium lead by France's EDF Energy.

The government said that the construction of the two reactor power plant will "help take the UK towards low-carbon power".

EDF Energy have been in talks with the government for the last year over the minimum price that will be paid for electricity produced at the site.

The two sides have now agreed a "strike price" of £92.50 per megawatt hour of energy produced. According to reports this is twice the current wholesale cost of electricity.

It is understood that this price would fall to £89.50 per megawatt hour should EDF decide to develop a second nuclear power station at Sizewell in Suffolk.

Critics however have warned that guaranteeing a price for electricity at twice the current level will lead to an increase in customers bills.

(MH/CD)

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