Published: May 17, 2010
Change of government 'delays Hinkley Point expansion plans'

The expected date for the Hinkley Point C planning application to be submitted has slipped by four months from August to December, it has been claimed this week.

Campaigners from the Stop Hinkley pressure group say the delay comes amidst new uncertainty for the project following the General Election and appointment of new Conservative Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

Stop Hinkley's Jim Duffy told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "It's an uncertain time right now for the nuclear industry and EDF may think twice about its giant projects for Hinkley and Sizewell."

He went on to point to an article in The Times newspaper on Saturday (May 15th) in which Mr Huhne strengthened his assertion that new nuclear builds will not receive any Government subsidies, including in the event of a nuclear accident.

"This is a hardening of the position from the previous Labour Government who had not insisted on full liability insurance for the proposed generation of reactors," claimed Mr Duffy.

"The cost of full insurance may well be prohibitive to developers such as EDF Energy. Mr Huhne may also be under pressure from anti-nuclear Lib Dem colleagues to examine other potential aspects of Government subsidy, such as the Labour proposal for fixed pricing of nuclear waste management, after the expected 60 year life of the reactors."