The board of French energy giant EDF has backed the construction of Hinkley Point C
The board of French energy giant EDF has backed the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point.
A vote among board members today supported the £18bn construction of Hinkley Point C
According to reports, board members voted in favour of the project by a margin of 10 – seven, although an EDF spokeswoman was unable to confirm details of the vote.
The construction of Hinkley Point C will create an estimated 25,000 jobs, with completion scheduled for 2025.
It comes after one board member resigned earlier today in protest against the project.
EDF chief financial officer Thomas Piquemal also quit the firm earlier this year, warning that construction of the plant could put the company in financial jeopardy.
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In a statement EDF said: "[Hinkley Point C] will enable the Group to mobilise all its significant nuclear engineering skills following the final investment decision.
"The first concrete of reactor 1 of HPC, scheduled for mid-2019, will coincide with perfect continuity with the start-up of the EPR at Flamanville, scheduled for the end of 2018."
Nuclear Industry Association chief executive Tom Greatrex added: “We are now entering an important new phase, creating jobs, security and skilled workers for the UK supply chain.
“This will be the first new nuclear power station to be built in a generation and the first to be built without direct state funding.
"This major infrastructure project will give a vital boost to UK industry, our manufacturing supply chain and construction industry – demonstrating that even with the prospect of leaving the EU, the country is open for business.”