Thomas Piquemal has resigned from his position as finance director at EDF

EDF's Hinkley Point C

EDF finance director Thomas Piquemal has stepped down over the French firm鈥檚 Hinckley Point C plans, according to reports.

Piquermal resigned over his concerns that building the UK鈥檚 first nuclear energy plant in decades could jeopardise the company鈥檚 financial position, the reports said.

EDF has provisionally appointed Xavier Girre, who joined the company last year as finance director of its French business, as the group finance chief.

The news follows EDF鈥檚 comments last month that a final investment decision on Hinckley will be taken 鈥渢his year鈥.

EDF chief executive Jean Bernard-Levy speaking at a conference said:  鈥淲e are working actively today with our Chinese partners to complete the discussion that we are having and announce a final investment decision very soon.鈥

When asked whether 鈥渧ery soon鈥 meant this year, he replied: 鈥淚f in my thinking very soon did not mean this year, I would be disingenuous.鈥