guardian.co.uk,
Damian Carrington, Monday 14 May 2012
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| Anti-nuclear protesters at Hinkley mark the first anniversary of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, on 10 March 2012. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images |
The massive
earthworks needed to prepare the ground for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset have been delayed, the Guardian has learned, dealing a
significant blow to the government's energy plans. Half of the big six energy
companies have already abandoned their nuclear plans as too expensive, but the
Hinkley plant is backed by the most pro-nuclear energy company, EDF, which is
83% controlled by the French state.
Replacing
the UK's ageing nuclear plants is central to the government's current plans to
cut greenhouse gas emissions while keeping the lights on. EDF was seen as the
most committed company, with France getting three-quarters of its electricity
from nuclear power. But reports of rising reactor costs and the election of
Francois Hollande as French president, promising to cut back nuclear power, has
dented confidence. UK energy company bosses have stressed the need for
ministers to ensure their energy market reform plans, set out in the Queen's
speech, to make new nuclear power stations an attractive investment.
The
earthwork preparation of the Hinkley site, involving moving millions of cubic
metres of soil and rock, was due to begin in August, according to West Somerset
Council's planning department. But EDF staff have been told the work will now
start in 2013, according to information obtained by the Guardian.
Crispin
Aubrey, of the Stop Hinkley campaign, said: "This is very good news. We
have always argued that it's appalling vandalism to destroy over 400 acres of
Somerset countryside before they even have permission to construct the proposed
reactors. This is yet another sign that the UK's dangerous nuclear enterprise
is stumbling."
EDF is
expected to get the government's go-ahead to build the reactors within the next
year, and will make its final investment decision by the end of 2012. "We
aim to start the earthworks as soon as practicable and all necessary steps are
being taken to ensure that work can start in good time," said an EDF
spokesman. He added some preparatory work had begun since planning permission
was granted in February, including cutting hedgerows, demolishing old buildings
and closing footpaths. Internally, EDF blamed the delay on cost overruns on the
preparatory work. One source involved in the project told the Guardian the work
so far had been a "farce".
The £100m
earthworks contracts were awarded to construction companies Keir and BAMNuttall in February, days after David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy agreed awide-ranging nuclear power deal. Both companies declined to comment on the
earthworks delay.
The delay
comes at a highly sensitive time as EDF and other companies negotiate with the
government over the financial support that will be available to nuclear and
other low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
On Friday,
the chief executive of Centrica, which has a 20% stake in EDF's nuclear plans,
issued a warning to ministers. "The investment case for nuclear has yet to be proven," Sam Laidlaw told investors. Earlier, EDF's chief executive,
Vincent de Rivaz, said: "It is absolutely critical that the government
continues to make steady, tangible progress with its electricity market reform
plans." EDF has been criticised as being too close to government,
providing full-time staff to work within the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Energy
minister Charles Hendry will be questioned by MPs on the nuclear challenge on
Wednesday.
A DECC
spokeswoman said: "It is for energy companies to construct, operate and
decommission nuclear power stations. EDF's application for development consent
for the nuclear power station itself envisages operations starting in
2019."
"The
flagship nuclear project in Britain is now surrounded with confusion and is
going nowhere fast," said Doug Parr, Greenpeace chief scientist:
"It's time for the government to admit that the economics of nuclear power
just don't stack up. Only blank cheques from the taxpayer will keep the show on
the road."
The cost of
the two nuclear plants EDF intends to build in Somerset was reported last week
to have risen by 40% to £7bn each. Peter Atherton, an influential energy
analyst at Citigroup, said in a report: "If construction costs are indeed
anything like that, then an already very challenging programme may be reaching the point of impossibility."
An EDF
spokesman said: "Information about costs will be made public in due
course, taking account of all the relevant factors. We remain committed to
delivering the first new nuclear plants in the UK for 20 years at Hinkley
Point. The decision depends on having the correct market framework that will
allow an appropriate return on the massive investment required."
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