Comments come after French economy minister revealed date for decision on 拢18bn project
The UK chief executive of EDF has told MPs the long-awaited Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant will 鈥渃learly and categorically鈥� go ahead.
Vincent de Rivaz, who is being grilled by a committee of MPs this morning, used his opening remarks to say: 鈥淚 will start by saying clearly and categorically that Hinkley Point C will go ahead鈥�.
His comments come after France鈥檚 economy minister said this week that a final investment decision on the 拢18bn scheme in Somerset will be made in May.
Speaking before the French parliament鈥檚 Economic Affairs Committee, economy minister Emmanuel Macron revealed a decision would be taken 鈥渁t the start of May鈥� and added that it was unlikely EDF would back out of the project.
Reuters previously reported that several sources close to EDF told it a decision was expected to be taken before EDF鈥檚 shareholder meeting on 12 May but could have come at its board meeting next Wednesday.
Macron said: 鈥淭he principal nuclear project in the developed world is Hinkley Point.
鈥淐an we legitimately choose not to take part in the largest nuclear project in the developed world? For my part, I don鈥檛 think so.鈥�
Referring to the movement of the date of the final investment decision, Macron told the committee: 鈥淲hy the start of May?
鈥淚t must be taken before the general assembly [shareholder meeting] of EDF, and it鈥檚 important that we give our British partners full visibility of this investment, which is absolutely critical for them鈥� also before the deadlines which are important for them.鈥�
He added: 鈥淪o we need to make the most of the coming weeks but there is no urgency to decide by the end of the month, because we need to work on a number of measures which are over and above Hinkley Point.鈥�
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