France still committed to “very important” Hinkley Point, says Emmanuel Macron
France has said it is still committed to building new reactors at Hinkley Point power plant, despite worries over how the project will be funded.
Emmanuel Macron, France's economy minister, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that it remained "completely committed" and the project was "very important" on Sunday morning.
EDF, partly owned by the French state, has yet to find the funds for the billion pound power plant in Somerset and is already weighed down by huge debts.
"We back Hinkley Point project, it's very important for France, it's very important for the nuclear sector and EDF. Now we have to finalise the work, and especially the technical and industrial work, very closely with EDF, with the British government, to be in a situation to sign in the coming week or more," said Macron.
However, last week Macron admitted the project came with "risks as well as opportunities".
He added that he hoped details could be agreed with British officials this week.
The board of EDF is expected to take a vote on the project in March with some members already having indicated they will vote against. The French government is also split over the project, with French energy minister Segolene Royal indicating discussions are still taking place over whether it should be delayed.
Asked on Sunday if he thought it was still going to happen, Macron said: "That's my view."