Britain’s first nuclear power plant in 20 years approved
Q. What is Hinkley Point?- Published on 16 Sep 16a. Cliff in southwest England
b. Energy project in Southwest England
c. Engineering project in Southwest England
d. Nuclear power plant in Southwest England
ANSWER: Nuclear power plant in Southwest England
British government on 15th Sept approved the construction of UK’s first new nuclear power plant in more than two decades.
- This French and Chinese backed project has prompted high level fears regarding national security
- The decision has been made to proceed with the 18 billion pound plant in SW England.
- Future foreign funded infrastructure projects will be subject to tighter rules
- Plant will be financed by Chinese nuclear power provider CGN and French Energy Group EDF
- China and France welcomed the approval heralding a “golden era” of ties
- Under the deal, EDF will not be able to sell controlling stake in the project before completion without British approval
- France’s nuclear industry has been struggling in recent years as the industry leaned towards renewables and away from costly nuclear plants notably in the wake of 2011 Fukushima accident
- Trade unions and manufacturers in Britain also welcomed the deal, saying it could create close to 25,000 jobs
- Nuclear power supplies about 20 percent of Britain’s energy, but no new reactors have been built since the 1990s
- Hinkley Point project will cut GHG emissions which must fall by 80 percent on 1990 levels by 2050
- Opposition criticised the deal’s guarantee to operators of fixed above market electricity price for 35 years
