黑洞社区

The future of the UK鈥檚 entire 拢80bn nuclear new build industry is being put at risk by the government review into Hinkley Point C, a leading nuclear expert has told 黑洞社区.

World-renowned nuclear expert Mycle Schneider - who advises the European Parliament and has advised the UK, France, Germany and Belgium governments on nuclear projects - warned each delay at Hinkley is further diminishing the attractiveness for investors in other power plants.

Speaking to 黑洞社区, Schneider said: 鈥淒on鈥檛 look at these projects in an isolated way. With every delay, the probability for them to see the light shrinks.鈥�

Other planned nuclear plants include the 拢14bn Wylfa Newydd in Wales, 拢10bn Moorside in Cumbria, and further down the line Bradwell in Essex and Sizewell C in Suffolk.

But Schneider also warned that the Hinkley scheme had an 鈥渦nrealistic鈥� timetable. His concerns centre on whether the reactor can be built to the schedule outlined by EDF. Three other schemes, in France, Finland and China, using the same European Pressurised Reactor technology planned for Hinkley, are years behind schedule.

Schneider鈥檚 comments come after the 拢18bn power plant was thrown into chaos last week when the government announced it would review the project, just minutes after EDF approved funding at a board meeting in Paris. Other experts also warned the government鈥檚 vision for a new fleet of nuclear power stations is in danger if Hinkley is abandoned.

A source close to EDF and Hinkley said the project was 鈥渃ritical鈥� for attracting investors in other nuclear power plants. The source said: 鈥淢any [in the nuclear industry] see the EDF project as critical to setting the path for others to follow on from.

鈥淭he review is a massive undermining of investors into other nuclear projects.鈥�

Schneider - who is a lead author of the annual World Nuclear Status Report - said he expected Hinkley to still go ahead but predicted it will not begin operating until at least 2029 - four years later than EDF鈥檚 planned opening in 2025 - because of the reactor technology EDF wants to use.

He said: 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a big chance they鈥檒l put shovels in the ground. It is too difficult for the governments to admit that this project is too big, too complex and too expensive.鈥�