黑洞社区

Nuclear industry experts have warned that the 拢80bn nuclear new build industry is in 鈥渕eltdown鈥� as problems beset the clients behind the next generation of planned plants.

Despite French energy giant EDF pressing ahead with construction of 拢18bn Hinkley Point C - the first new UK nuclear plant for almost 30 years - after getting the all-clear from the government last autumn, experts warn the sector still faces major challenges.

In recent weeks Toshiba, the backer of the 拢10bn planned Moorside plant in Cumbria, has delayed its third quarter accounts twice and revealed a 拢6.3bn (拢5.1bn) write-down on its US nuclear division, Westinghouse.

Meanwhile EDF has continued to face problems and delays on its Flamanville nuclear plant project in northern France - which uses the same reactor technology earmarked for Hinkley - including an explosion on site last month that injured three people, but posed no nuclear risk.

Nuclear lobbyist Tim Yeo, former Tory MP and climate change committee chair, told 黑洞社区 Toshiba鈥檚 financial problems had 鈥渃ast doubt鈥� on the future of the Moorside plant and posed 鈥渟omething of a crisis鈥�.

He also queried EDF鈥檚 ability to complete Hinkley as planned by 2025, arguing that until Flamanville completes 鈥渢here has to be a question mark over what the completion date of Hinkley will be鈥�.

Meanwhile, Paul Dorfman, senior research fellow at UCL鈥檚 Energy Institute and long-time nuclear critic, said he believed the new nuclear programme was in 鈥渕eltdown鈥�. He also questioned whether EDF - which has debts of (E)37.4bn (拢32.4bn) - would deliver at Hinkley: 鈥淚t might happen, but it鈥檚 dependent upon a number of things, primarily EDF鈥檚 credit rating.鈥�

However, Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, defended the new build nuclear sector鈥檚 progress, arguing it was still in good shape: 鈥淲e鈥檙e not in a fundamentally different place now than we were three months ago. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got one power station under construction and two more getting to the next stage in the regulatory process. The trajectory is right.鈥�

Firms working on early contracts at Hinkley include contractors Laing O鈥橰ourke, Bouygues and Costain and consultants Mace and Gleeds.

A spokesperson for Moorside developer NuGen, which is 60% owned by Toshiba, said: 鈥淣uGen鈥檚 shareholders are committed to the development of the Moorside project to build Europe鈥檚 largest new nuclear power station in West Cumbria.鈥�