6 August 2012
Under a treaty which encourages nuclear investment in the European Union, the European Commission has expressed its satisfaction with proposals by EDF Energy to build and operate a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
Last month the Commission presented its opinion to the UK Government, under Article 41 of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) Treaty, concluding that the proposed Hinkley Point C investment "fulfils the objectives of the Euratom Treaty and contributes to develop a sustainable national energy mix."
Details of the Commission's opinion can be viewed at: http://hinkleypoint.edfenergyconsultation.info/websitefiles/120712_COM_Opinion_Hinkley_Point.pdf
Under the Treaty developers of new nuclear power stations are required to notify the Commission of any investment projects. EDF Energy submitted its documentation in January 2010.
The recent opinion follows a separate view expressed by the Commission in May on cross-border impacts, under Article 37 of the Treaty. It concluded that Hinkley Point C "is not liable to result in radioactive contamination of the water, soil or airspace of another Member State that would be significant from the point of view of health."
Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, Managing Director of EDF Energy Nuclear New Build, said: "We are delighted that the European Commission has given the Hinkley Point C project a clean bill of health. This is great news and the result of a lot of hard work, as we continue to make progress towards obtaining the necessary planning and regulatory consents for this nationally important development."
-ENDS-
For further information please contact:
Alan Hyde
EDF Energy on 020 3219 6642
Notes to Editors
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies and the largest producer of low-carbon electricity, producing around one-sixth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear power stations, wind farms, coal and gas power stations and combined heat and power plants. The company supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customer accounts and is the biggest supplier of electricity by volume in Great Britain.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear plants, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants could generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
In its nuclear activities EDF Energy has partnered with Centrica, which has a 20% stake in the company’s eight existing plants and in the project carrying out pre-development work for new build. Centrica also has the option to take up to 20% stakes in each of the four planned plants.
Through Our Sustainability Commitments, EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any British energy company and the company has since been awarded the highest ranking of Platinum Plus in Business in the Community’s 2011 Corporate Responsibility Index, the UK’s leading voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility.
EDF is an official partner and the electricity supplier of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Team Green Britain, real time energy monitoring and electric vehicle research.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. The company employs around 15,000 people at locations across the UK.
For more news from EDF Energy please see www.edfenergy.com/media-centre/ . To find out more about the UK's energy challenges look at www.edfenergy.com/energyfuture/