黑洞社区

Contractors on the 拢18bn Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant have been told to start spending money as client EDF says it will be releasing its budget imminently.

Sources close to the project have told 黑洞社区 EDF has instructed suppliers on the Somerset power plant to restart 鈥渦nconstrained spending鈥� on the scheme, despite the fact a final investment decision has yet to be made.

A source told 黑洞社区: 鈥淓DF used the words 鈥榰nconstrained spending鈥� to the supply chain to get the project moving. By 鈥榰nconstrained鈥� they mean 鈥榳e鈥檙e going to go on as if a decision has been made.鈥欌��

Another source said: 鈥淓DF asked us, 鈥榠f we release the budget to you, what will you do with it?鈥�. We told them what we would do with it, and they said 鈥榞et your plans ready to start spending this鈥�.鈥�

One of the sources suggested the delay in EDF making a final investment decision on Hinkley could be due to legal issues, in addition to the widely reported issues in funding in the project.

Despite the delays, a market source said suppliers - which include heavyweight contractors Kier, Laing O鈥橰ourke and Bouygues - will already be 鈥済earing up鈥� to deliver the work following the instruction from EDF.

The source added: 鈥淭he indications [EDF is] giving suggest they just want to get on with the project. They haven鈥檛 secured any additional funding. They鈥檙e telling people to get on with it now and hoping they can fix the balance sheet later.鈥�

Enabling contractors Kier and Bam will be the first to start on site should a decision be made on Hinkley.

EDF declined to comment.