Government and EDF agree deal for new nuclear plant, with more than half the value of project to go to UK firms
The government has struck a long-awaited deal with French utility EDF for the 拢16bn nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
The deal, announced this morning, follows an agreement over the price of electricity that will be generated from the new power station, or the so-called 鈥榮trike-price鈥�.
Under the plans the government has guaranteed a price of 拢92.50/Mwh for the price of the electricity from Hinkley - fully indexed to consumer price inflation - more than twice the current price of electricity.
This will fall to 拢89.50/Mwh if EDF moves ahead with a second plant, Sizewell C in Suffolk.
The deal also confirmed that the project will be underwritten by the government through the UK guarantees scheme, with Treasury-guaranteed debt expected to finance 65% of expected total costs prior to operations.
Speaking to BBC鈥檚 Radio 4 Today programme, energy secretary Ed Davey said that 鈥渁 key part of our negotiation鈥� was that up to 57% of the value of the project would go to UK firms.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gone through in minute detail the value of this project and looked at the contractors they are going to use,鈥� he said.
The agreement now paves the way for EDF to make its final investment decision to go ahead with the 拢16bn power station which, when completed in 2023, will provide 7% of the UK鈥檚 electricity.
EDF said this morning that it would make its final investment decision by July 2014, with the power station expected to complete commissioning of the first unit in 2023.
EDF said the construction cost of the two nuclear power units at Hinkley Point is expected to be 拢14bn, with a further 拢2bn of other costs, including land purchases, achieving the different consents, construction of a spent fuel storage facility and preparing the 900-strong team which will run the station.
Two Chinese investors - China General Nuclear Power Group and China National Nuclear Corp - are now expected to acquire stakes in the Hinkley project, which together will be worth up to 40%, along with the French nuclear developer Areva, which is taking a 10% stake.
EDF鈥檚 stake will be around 45-50%, with the firm in talks with a shortlist of further investors, who could take a stake worth up to 15%.
Meanwhile, Costain confirmed this morning that it had won the 拢250m marine works contract for the project, which will see it design and deliver the water cooling systems for the nuclear power station.
Costain will design and construct three marine tunnels, around 11km in total length and each one approximately seven metres in diameter, to take in cooling water from the Severn Estuary for the nuclear reactor before it is cleansed, recycled and returned.
It is expected that work will commence as soon as possible following the final investment decision.
Andrew Wyllie, Chief Executive of Costain, said: 鈥淲e estimate that this contract will lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs at Costain alone, including apprentices, specialist technical and engineering roles and programme management.
鈥淲e are very much looking forward to working with all our partners in this project to design and deliver a world class power station at Hinkley Point.鈥�
Last year a joint venture between Bouygues and Laing O鈥橰ourke won the 拢2bn main civils contract for the project.
Industry reaction to the deal
Scot Parkhurst, UK energy sector director at consultancy WSP said the deal was 鈥渓ong overdue鈥�. 鈥淔inally we have certainty that this important project will go ahead, safeguarding the specialist skills across the construction sector that have been sitting dormant for too long,鈥� he said.
鈥淒eep-rooted uncertainty in the industry, largely due to the dawdling Energy Market Reforms, have delayed construction to the extent that generating capacity is only just meeting energy demand.
鈥淥n top of that, our spare capacity is set to fall to 4% over the next three years so if we see above average winter demand or reduced electricity imports from the EU then there could be no spare capacity at all in 2015 and 2016. It鈥檚 a very worrying situation for our energy security.鈥�
Paul Stapleton, head of energy at EC Harris said: 鈥淭his is great news for the UK construction industry and civil nuclear sector. Programme assurance and a focus on the management of environmental and safety risks will be key to a successful outcome for his landmark project.
鈥淭he strike price is just right given the length of the programme and the timing for when the plant will be operational.
鈥淓nergy prices will inevitably rise over the medium and long term and this strike price sets a sound framework for other power generation investment in the UK which will future proof other power generation investment decisions.
鈥淲ith such a diverse set of consortia and stakeholders, cost and programme certainty are critical since the consortia partners are bearing the commercial risk.鈥�
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) director general Nick Baveystock said: 鈥淣uclear energy - as part of a diverse energy portfolio - has an important role to play in meeting the UK鈥檚 future energy challenges.
鈥淭his deal therefore marks a major step forward in realising its potential and we hope to see Hinkley being the first of a whole fleet of new nuclear stations, allowing costs to be reduced over the course of the programme, limiting the impact on consumer bills.
鈥淧assage of the Energy Bill still however remains a crucial missing piece of this jigsaw. While the agreement on a strike price lifts the cloud of uncertainty for investors and demonstrates Government鈥檚 commitment to the future of nuclear, it is the Energy Bill that will provide the necessary strategic direction required to build investor confidence in the long term.
鈥淲e urge prompt progress to secure its passage.鈥�
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