UNIONS have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to give the green light to the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk ahead of the government’s investment summit tomorrow.
GMB and Prospect say a final investment decision (FID) on the major infrastructure project has reached a “critical point” where further delays would risk the “seamless” transition of thousands of workers and supply chains from Hinkley Point C.
French energy giant EDF is meanwhile reportedly in talks with investors to raise up to £4 billion to finish the delayed project in Somerset.
General secretaries of Prospect and GMB Mike Clancy and Gary Smith said in the letter: “Any delay risks demobilising the workforce and supply chain, which could lead to unnecessary construction delays, increased costs, and an impact on the economic benefits the project offers the UK.
“Net zero requires nuclear, and the UK needs Sizewell C.
“A prompt FID delivered within the month will solidify investor confidence and provide certainty to the region, the workforce, and the supply chain.”
Referring to expectations that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will change her definition of debt to allow more government spending in the Budget later this month, they added: “With such a framework in place there is no excuse for not making a substantial public investment to get Sizewell C over the line.”
But Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Kate Hudson said suggestions that nuclear power is a reliable, clean and sustainable energy source “could not be further from the reality.”
She said that building Sizewell C is “very costly” and will produce radioactive waste that will remain dangerous for hundreds of generations.
“Nuclear power is not the answer to the climate catastrophe we are hurtling into, or to our energy needs,” she said.
“Renewable energy sources have the potential to supply all our energy needs.
“With the right support and investment, rather than subsidising the nuclear industry, we can soon have enough clean energy from renewables — with the added bonus of creating many jobs.”
Plans to have the FID signed off this July were disrupted by the general election. Ministers have set a new end-of-year target date.
A Department for Energy Security spokesman said: “There are no plans for a delay to Sizewell C, with discussions with potential investors ongoing, and our intention is to deliver the project as quickly as possible.”
