The EDF board is meeting tomorrow to reach its 'final investment decision' on Hinkley C. It was meant to be a rubber stamp but now it's anything but, as EDF's share price sinks to a new low, unions and employee directors harden their opposition to the project, and projects in France, Finland and China run way over time and cost with severe technical problems and safety concerns.
… EDF's Hinkley C decision 'on a knife edge' as … China Waste hinkley-blockade-cut.jpg The EDF board is meeting tomorrow to reach its … a rubber stamp but now it's anything but, as EDF's share price sinks to a new low, unions …
Soon EDF will have to start the biggest, most complex and costliest nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management programme on earth, writes Paul Dorfman. But whereas Germany has set aside €38 billion to decommission 17 nuclear reactors, France has set aside only €23 billion to decommission its 58 reactors. When the real costs come in, they could easily bankrupt the company.
… EDF facing bankruptcy as decommissioning time … Waste Finance dampierre-en-burly-cut.jpg Soon EDF will have to start the biggest, most … French nuclear fleet? It's a question that EDF and its partners are fretting over, with …
EDF's 'final investment decision' on the Hinkley C nuclear power station next week will be pure theatre, writes David Toke. The truth is that no concrete is to be poured until 2019 at the earliest. Meanwhile post-Brexit UK is running out of money to pay for it, and EDF is under investigation by the Financial Markets Authority for concealing information on Hinkley from investors.
… EDF to postpone Hinkley C start until 2019 or … Finance UK France hpc-ai-big-cut.jpg EDF's 'final investment decision' on the … UK is running out of money to pay for it, and EDF is under investigation by the Financial …
Nuclear giant EDF could be heading towards bankruptcy, writes Paul Brown, as it faces a perfect storm of under-estimated costs for decommissioning, waste disposal and Hinkley C. Meanwhile income from power sales is lagging behind costs, and 17 of its reactors are off-line for safety tests. Yet French and UK governments are turning a blind eye to the looming financial crisis.
… French taxpayers face huge nuclear bill as EDF financial crisis deepens Paul Brown | 8th … cruas-nuclear-cut.jpg Nuclear giant EDF could be heading towards bankruptcy, … The liabilities of Électricité de France (EDF) - the biggest electricity supplier in …
The cash-strapped French energy giant EDF may sell off profitable stakes in its in its eight existing UK nuclear reactors to raise money for the Hinkley Point C project. But with no example of the EPR design planned for Hinkley even near completion, it may all prove a risk too far.
… EDF may sell €3bn stake in UK nuclear to fund … The cash-strapped French energy giant EDF may sell off profitable stakes in its in … completion, it may all prove a risk too far. EDF is considering the sale of a €3bn (£2.2bn) …
Just as EDF was due to make its 'final investment decision' on Hinkley C, writes Oliver Tickell, another delay. In spite of incredibly generous subsidies, the company is unable to finance it. Its last hope is to persuade the French state to take a 10% stake in the doomed project.
… Unable to raise Hinkley C nuclear cash, EDF turns to French government Oliver Tickell … hinkley-point-nuclear-pow-cut.jpg Just as EDF was due to make its 'final investment … a lot of people had been waiting for - EDF workers, the UK government, and …
A new report finds that 28 nuclear reactors, 18 of them EDF plants in France and one at Sizewell in the UK, are at risk of failure 'including core meltdown' due to flaws in safety-critical components in reactor vessels and steam generators, writes Oliver Tickell. The news comes as EDF credit is downgraded due to a growing cash flow crisis and its decision to press on with Hinkley C.
… Sizewell B and 27 other EDF nuclear plants 'at risk of catastrophic … finds that 28 nuclear reactors, 18 of them EDF plants in France and one at Sizewell in … writes Oliver Tickell. The news comes as EDF credit is downgraded due to a growing cash …
EDF in the UK may be propelled by its disastrous nuclear ambitions, writes Chris Goodall. But across the Atlantic it's another story: the company is the US's biggest wind developer, and selling its power, profitably, for under 40% of the price it has been promised for Hinkley C, including federal tax credits.
… EDF shows that wind makes better sense than … Corporations USA France UK Energy Finance edf-wind_farm1.jpg EDF in the UK may be propelled by its …
MPs today grilled EDF Energy supremo Vincent de Rivaz over the troubled Hinkley C nuclear plant in Somerset. He insisted that the project was definitely going ahead - but refused to say when the 'final investment decision' was due. Confused? Bewildered? Frustrated? So were the MPs.
… EDF promises MPs: 'we will build Hinkley C!' … China Politics de-rivaz.jpg MPs today grilled EDF Energy supremo Vincent de Rivaz over the … the MPs. "Hinkley Point C will go ahead" , EDF Energy boss Vincent de Rivaz assured MPs …
Ten advisers and civil servants working in DECC, the former UK energy department, were seconded from EDF or had other links to the company, writes Joe Sandler Clarke. This may help to explain the 'preferential treatment' EDF has received over the 3.2GW nuclear power station it wants to build at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
… Hinkley C: government's 'revolving door' to EDF execs Joe Sandler Clarke | 12th August … News Nuclear Energy UK Politics Corporations edf-cut.jpg Ten advisers and civil servants … UK energy department, were seconded from EDF or had other links to the company, writes …
An occupation of EDF's site office for Hinkley C turned into a celebration today as the EDF Board postponed its 'final investment decision' for the tenth time. With strong opposition among French unions and the project afflicted by severe technical and financial problems, it's not just Hinkley that's going down, but the UK's entire nuclear programme.
… EDF's Hinkley C offices occupied as UK nuclear … China Finance Technology Energy Protest edf-occupied-cut.jpg An occupation of EDF's site office for Hinkley C turned into a …
Nuclear giant EDF can't afford to write off the £2 billion sunk into the Hinkley C nuclear plant, write Paul Brown & Oliver Tickell. So its cunning plan is to turn it into a 'nuclear zombie' - officially a live project, but actually stone cold dead - until EDF can find a way out of the hole it has dug itself into.
… UK France zombie-plague-cut.jpg Nuclear giant EDF can't afford to write off the £2 billion … project, but actually stone cold dead - until EDF can find a way out of the hole it has dug … when the French state-owned power company EDF again postponed a final decision on …
Another week, another series of disasters for EDF and it's Hinkley C nuclear power project, writes Oliver Tickell, with the company's credit rating downgraded partly due to its exposure to the project, and its Chinese partner CGN ruling out a takeover of the site. How much longer can the tragicomedy continue before the curtain falls?
… Another week, another series of disasters for EDF and it's Hinkley C nuclear power project, … credit rating agency has just downgraded EDF's debt from A1 to 'A2 outlook negative'. … And Hinkley C is an important cause of EDF's sinking down the credit rating charts. …
In its second consultation for the EDF's planned Sizewell C nuclear power station there's a strange omission, writes Peter Lux: that the plant would use 1,600 m3 of mains water a day, adding to stresses on important local wetlands like RSPB's Minsmere reserve. The omission is not just strange - it's also illegal and could make the entire exercise invalid.
… Sizewell C consultation: EDF 'forgets' to mention 600,000 m3 a year of … In its second consultation for the EDF's planned Sizewell C nuclear power station … entire exercise invalid. One 23rd November EDF launched its Second Consultation Document …
France's energy minister Ségolène Royal has backed union demands for the EDF's Hinkley C project in Somerset to be re-examined, write Angelique Chrisafis & Chris Johnston - adding that the project must not go ahead if it would 'dry out' funds needed for EDF's renewable energy program.
… Royal has backed union demands for the EDF's Hinkley C project in Somerset to be … ahead if it would 'dry out' funds needed for EDF's renewable energy program. The French … nuclear power once. Her comments fit in with EDF's broader strategy to become a global …
EDF has indefinitely postponed its Hinkley C nuclear plant in Somerset, England, as a new IEA analysis shows that its power will cost UK energy users three times more than it should, writes Oliver Tickell. A similar reactor in France is running six years late and three times over budget - and may never be completed.
… Nuclear Finance France UK Corporations hpc-edf-cut.jpg EDF has indefinitely postponed its Hinkley C … The French state-owned power company EDF has revealed that its Hinkley C nuclear …
French nuclear parastatal EDF is facing problem after problem - zombie nuclear projects in the UK, Finland, China and France, a fleet of 'beyond the grave' reactors, a dropping share price and its drooping credit rating. But is it really as bad as all that? Jonathon Porritt has exclusive access to the leaked Agenda of its latest board meeting. And the answer is - no. It's even worse.
… EDF's leaked Board Agenda: Zombie nuclear … nuclear zombies.jpg French nuclear parastatal EDF is facing problem after problem - zombie … seriously wouldn't want to be a Director of EDF at the moment. The agenda for an average …
In a values tug of war, many are asking whether London 2012 corporate sponsors like BP, Dow and EDF live up to the Olympic spirit?
… Will London 2012 sponsors BP, Dow, EDF and Rio Tinto tarnish the Olympic brand? … Health Society Olympics Bp Dow Chemicals EDF Rio Tinto 2finished_triple_dynamic.jpg The … 2012 corporate sponsors like BP, Dow and EDF live up to the Olympic spirit? In just …
As the European Commission considers the £100 billion subsidy package the UK has offered EDF to build and operate Hinkley C nuclear power station, Paul Dorfman explains why the 'deal' is illegal, anti-renewables, and ruinous to energy users and tax payers.
… billion subsidy package the UK has offered EDF to build and operate Hinkley C nuclear … State Aid investigation into the two planned EDF nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C will … can be up and running well before then. EDF has said that it will apply for life …
The outgoing European Commission has just given the UK's controversial Hinkley C nuclear project the go-ahead, writes Paul Dorfman - approving a deal that will cost the UK public tens of billions of pounds. But now the deal faces a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice.
… today to allow the UK to subsidise two new EDF nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C to the … determined to dole out with such largesse to EDF are not available to renewable energy. In … compared to the 35-year contract on offer to EDF. UK's billions will compensate EDF, no …
Just as George Osborne is hoping to get China to invest billions in EDF's Hinkley C nuclear plant in Somerset, news from EDF's Flamanville nuclear site threatens to sink the project. French regulators are to demand another lengthy round of tests on its flawed reactor vessel. And if Flamanville isn't working by 2020, £17 billion of UK finance guarantees for Hinkley C will collapse.
… is hoping to get China to invest billions in EDF's Hinkley C nuclear plant in Somerset, news from EDF's Flamanville nuclear site threatens to … The situation is causing acute concern at EDF, the French parastatal that owns the …
Twin nuclear reactors at Taishan in China have been sealed into their concrete domes despite fears that the reactor vessels have serious metallurgical defects. No safety test data has been released by the two companies in charge, EDF and CGN, to show that the reactors will not crack in operation, releasing radioactivity.
… EDF, CGN press ahead with 'unsafe' Chinese … been released by the two companies in charge, EDF and CGN, to show that the reactors will … crack in operation, releasing radioactivity. EDF and China General Nuclear Corporation …
The European Commission has launched its public consultation over the UK's proposed state aid to the proposed Hinkley C nuclear plant in Somerset - and in the process delivered a mighty broadside against the UK Government's plans.
… UK Government's deal with French state owned EDF to build the first new nuclear reactor in … and risked substantially over-compensating EDF - or rather, its UK subsidiary NNGB. … Commission says that additional support to EDF (on top of market prices) could wind up …
Following high-level criticisms of the Hinkley C nuclear plant from HSBC and the Chancellor's father in law, EDF, the company in line to build the power station, is fighting back hard, writes Oliver Tickell. But it could all be too late to rescue the doomed project.
… from HSBC and the Chancellor's father in law, EDF, the company in line to build the power … on the table is between the UK Government and EDF - and it's not been signed. An added … is that the company making the reactors for EDF, Areva, is close to bankruptcy. On top of …