TLTP
\nLONDON
\nThe UK will enter negotiations with France\u2019s EDF for the construction of a new \u00a320 billion ($27 billion) nuclear power plant. The long-anticipated move would help to replace the existing generation of atomic plants, all of which will be retired by the middle of the next decade, and help to shore up supplies of pollution-free electricity.
\nThe plant in Suffolk, eastern England, could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to provide 7 per cent of the country\u2019s energy needs. \u201cWe\u2019re starting negotiations with EDF, which would be the developer at Sizewell C,\u201d Business Secretary Alok Sharma told BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today programme.
\n\u201cWhat this is not is a green light on the construction, so what we will be doing is looking to see whether we can reach an investment decision in this parliament.\u201d
\nEDF is already building Britain\u2019s first new nuclear plant in more than two decades, Hinkley Point C, with backing from China\u2019s CGN. CGN also owns a 20 per cent development phase stake in Sizewell C but recent media reports have suggested it could pull out.
\nThe government said in September it was looking at funding options for the project. It said on Monday the talks would be subject to reaching a value-for-money deal and all other relevant approvals before any final decision was taken on whether to proceed.
\nBritain\u2019s nuclear power plants can supply about 20 percent of the country\u2019s electricity demand. The government said it would \u201cconsider options to enable investment in at least one nuclear power station by the end of this parliament\u201d.
\nThe announcement on Sizewell C was made alongside the government\u2019s white paper on cleaning up Britain\u2019s energy system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TLTP LONDON The UK will enter negotiations with France\u2019s EDF for the construction of a new \u00a320 billion ($27 billion) nuclear power plant. The long-anticipated move would help to replace the existing generation of atomic plants, all of which will be retired by the middle of the next decade, and help to shore up supplies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n