British media are reporting on tentative signs of activity at the Hinkley Point C construction site that may indicate a step in the right direction concerning French energy giant EDF making a decisive commitment to the project that is estimated at $26 billion.
At mid week, the news was less optimistic, as it was widely reported that EDF had postponed the decision on the project in Britain that could result in thousands of jobs and decades of carbon-emissions-free electricity generation.
The company's board was set to meet and possibly indicate a go-ahead for the project. Instead, the company said no financial decision would be made until mid-February at the earliest.
In October, EDF reached a deal with the China General Nuclear, which will finance a third of the project, while EDF held onto a 66.5 percent stake. The deal set up two additional nuclear power projects, including one at Bradwell in Essex that would be based on Chinese technology.
Looking for embers that indicated there was hope EDF would green-light Hinkley Point C, reports from Britain now say that EDF has leased offices that would be used as the base of operations for the massive construction project.
The offices in Bristol “will be fitted out in the next few months,” said a report in the Western Morning News.
A small crew is already moving earth at the site. “There are currently 300 workers on the site with about 100 workers now employed by Kier Bam on the earthworks contract. The new offices are more positive news for this much-needed project,” said Phil Whitehurst, an officer with the GMB union.
A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change also called the news a step in the right direction. “This shows that good progress continues to be made so that Hinkley can kick start new nuclear in the UK,” the spokesman said.
The plant, which is slated for a 2025 start up, would be the first commercial reactor constructed in Britain in 20 years.