UK approval for Sizewell C nuclear project challenged in London court
Reuters
Published Mar 22, 2023 15:47
By Sam Tobin
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's approval for the planned Sizewell C nuclear plant came under scrutiny in London's High Court on Wednesday, as campaigners' lawyers argued the government failed to assess the environmental impact of the project.
The building of the plant by French utility EDF (EPA:EDF) in southeast England, capable of producing around 3.2 gigawatts of electricity or enough to power around 6 million homes, was approved in July.
The British government said in November that it would support Sizewell C with around 700 million pounds ($855 million) while taking a 50% stake during its development phase.
At the time, Business Minister Grant Shapps said the plant would help Britain move towards "greater energy independence," which has been a key focus since Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent energy costs surging.
However, campaign group Together Against Sizewell C argues that Britain unlawfully failed to consider alternative solutions to meeting Britain's emissions targets other than nuclear power.
Its lawyer David Wolfe argued in court filings that the government wrongly considered Sizewell C would reduce emissions by 2035, despite the fact that "the earliest that one of the two reactors could be operational would be the end of 2033" on EDF's "best-case scenario".
Government lawyers said in written arguments that the government had "considered alternative means of energy generation but … did not consider that they met the objectives of the project".
EDF subsidiary NNB Generation Company (SZC) Limited, which was given the go-ahead for the project in July, also opposed the legal challenge.
Its lawyer Hereward Phillpot said in court filings that any alternatives to meeting Britain's emissions targets "were required to deliver against the urgent national need for new nuclear power".
He said the schedule for the project anticipates that both reactors will be operational by mid-2034.
EDF has said Sizewell C could cost 20% less than its Hinkley Point C project in southwest England – Britain’s first new nuclear plant in more than two decades – which is currently budgeted at around 33 billion pounds ($40 billion).
Get The App
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.