Category Archives: News

Sunday Times 7 June 2020

Bradwell B: the only way is nuclear for Chinese deal to put reactor in Essex

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bradwell-b-the-only-way-is-nuclear-for-chinese-deal-to-put-reactor-in-essex-3kr3m3z6t

John Collingridge

[Extract] “The last time Britain got cold feet over China’s nuclear power ambitions, it nearly caused a diplomatic incident.
In July 2016, as dignitaries were en route from Beijing and Paris for a signing ceremony at Hinkley Point on the Somerset coast, then prime minister Theresa May announced a surprise review of China’s role in building the nuclear power station. A marquee had been erected and a menu planned: Cantonese-style pork, Somerset brie and mackerel ceviche with crème fraîche.

It took two months, security concessions and a golden share deal before May reluctantly agreed to allow China and France to proceed with the £18bn project, Britain’s first new nuclear power station in a generation.

An uneasy peace followed. Hinkley Point C is years late and its budget has risen to £22.5bn, but its hulking form continues to rise slowly, fuelled with cash from France’s EDF and China General Nuclear Corporation (CGN), which own two-thirds and a third respectively…..

…..Having rolled out the red carpet for CGN — encouraging it to spend £3.5bn so far — ministers risk embarrassing China for a second time, either by overruling the nuclear watchdog or delaying final approval for Bradwell.
Beijing has made its thinking clear. In a meeting with business minister Nadhim Zahawi last month, Zheng Dongshan, CGN’s UK chief executive, is understood to have demanded clarity on its involvement in the UK’s nuclear power programme, warning that financial support for Hinkley may be at risk — particularly if, as expected, the plant’s budget balloons further. CGN is also considering investing in Sizewell only at the planning stage, and then switching focus to getting its reactor regulated.”

The Times, 3 June 2020

Britain needs economic ties with China, but doesn’t need it to build Sizewell

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/britain-needs-economic-ties-with-china-but-doesn-t-need-it-to-build-sizewell-m8wdsc779?

[Extract] “As radioactive projects go, little beats Sizewell C: the nuclear monstrosity planned for the Suffolk coast. Already, the sirens are going off on economic and environmental grounds. But it’s the post-pandemic politics that give this scheme an extra Ready Brek glow. And, specifically, around Britain’s relations with China…

Of course, Britain needs economic ties with China. But for vital infrastructure? Sir Iain Duncan Smith gets lots of things wrong. But the ex-Tory leader is right on this: Sizewell is “the next Huawei”. The PM’s decision to give the Chinese telecom group a limited role in our 5G network is already jeopardising talks over a US trade deal. And, even if the man proving himself unfit to be US president loses the election, the Huawei problem may not go away. Sizewell adds a fresh complication.

And for what? A nuclear plant that shouldn’t be built anyway. How many examples does the government need that big nuclear reactors, with their guaranteed cost overruns and vast clean-up bills are last millennium technology? Hinkley itself? France’s Flamanville? Finland’s Olkiluoto? Toshiba blowing itself up with Westinghouse? Fukushima? Centrica failing to find a buyer for its stakes in existing plants?

…Instead, Britain is sizing up Sizewell: a project toxic on just about every level. The planning application went in last month. Boris should save everyone the trouble and can it now.”

FT Letter: 3 June 2020

Choosing nuclear narrows future energy choices

https://www.ft.com/content/b94e5c1f-05ad-4fe9-b20a-483f6002a500

Sir: The case Jonathan Ford makes for borrowing at the lowest cost could apply to any capital project including new nuclear (“Britain needs new nuclear, and the government should fund it” June 1).

But he doesn’t explain why he thinks EDF can deliver Sizewell C on time and budget when two of their other pressurised water reactor EPR projects are over a decade late and Hinkley’s costs are rising?

There are serious questions about nuclear’s role in net zero.

Lord Deben, chairman of the UK’s independent committee on climate change, describes it as a “transitional” power source, saying: “If we get better at balancing the grid and the amount of baseload energy, the need becomes smaller.”

There is wide agreement with Mr Ford that new nuclear takes a long time to build and costs are too high, but the National Infrastructure Commission draws a different conclusion: “Making decisions now, such as committing to a fleet of nuclear power plants, rules out a more diverse future generation mix and the potential this has to reduce costs to consumers.” We concur.

Dr Andy Wood,
Adnams plc, Southwold, Suffolk, UK
William Kendall
Entrepreneur, Kelsale, Suffolk, UK