by Muvija M and Susanna Twidale
LONDON (Reuters) – Boris Johnson announced on Thursday that Britain would invest 700 million pounds (810 million euros) in the Sizewell C nuclear power station project developed by EDF, in his latest major domestic policy announcement before stepping down as prime minister next week.
Britain aims to strengthen its energy independence as millions of Britons could struggle to keep warm this winter with soaring oil and gas prices, fueled by the war in Ukraine.
The development of nuclear power is supposed to eventually reduce the country’s dependence on natural gas, which last year contributed around 45% to its electricity production.
“We must (…) move forward with Sizewell C”, declared Boris Johnson in the city of the same name hosting this EPR project, in the east of England.
However, this new plant will not be operational for several years.
Another EPR project carried out by EDF in Great Britain, the Hinkley Point C power plant is now supposed to enter service in 2027, i.e. ten years behind the initial schedule, with additional costs of several billion pounds.
EDF said Sizewell C would benefit from being a near-replica of the Hinkley power station, a project now estimated at £25-26bn, and could therefore cost around 20% less.
The government also hopes that private investors will inject funds into this project.
(Report Susanna Twidale and Muvija M in London, French version Bertrand Boucey, edited by)
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