Commenting on EDF’s announcement that it now estimates the cost of Hinkley Point C to be in the range £25bn to £26bn and the start of the first reactor will be delayed to June 2027, Stop Hinkley spokesperson Roy Pumfrey said: “The Covid pandemic might be the excuse this time, but what was the excuse at Flamanville, Olkiluoto and Taishan? With nuclear, cost overruns and delays just keep happening whether there is a pandemic or not. And the £3bn extra is at 2015 prices. With inflation at 9%, the real final cost is sure to be well above £30bn.”
“It beggars belief that the UK Government is preparing to do another deal with EDF which will see UK electricity consumers paying upfront for another overpriced, waste producing, nature destroying mega station. Any new nuclear power station starting now will simply exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and be far too late to help tackle climate change.”