The £18bn plant, which would have provided 7% of the UK’s energy needs, was being part-funded by the Chinese government.
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The expectation was that the United Kingdom government, which has previously been an enthusiastic supporter of the agreement, would sign up without delay.
The Hinkley Point reactor is also controversial in the United Kingdom as the United Kingdom government has agreed to buy electricity from the plant for 35 years at a price that is more than twice current market rates.
The French state-owned energy company EDF is holding a board meeting to decide whether to give the green light to the major nuclear power plant project in southwest England.
John Sauven, Greenpeace’s executive director, said: “Theresa May now has a chance to stop this radioactive white elephant in its tracks”.
“EDF has mismanaged the Hinkley project; but the government has mismanaged the public interest in it”, shadow energy secretary Barry Gardiner said last night.
He added: “Today’s decision doesn’t prove the United Kingdom is open for business post Brexit – it just shows the Hinkley deal became too big to fail in the eyes of British and French politicians”.
There is no way that Hinkley can deliver power by 2025 which is already eight years later than originally promised.
They warned the costs could cripple the firm as hostile environmental groups called for more investment in renewables.
China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) is set to be confirmed as taking a 33.5% stake in the project.
Documents were expected to be signed on Friday and senior EDF officials were due to give interviews.
“We urge the EDF board to give the financial go-ahead on a project which will generate thousands of decent skilled jobs and help meet the energy needs of the United Kingdom for generations to come”, said Kevin Coyne, Unite union’s national officer for energy.
Upping the tension, one board member resigned just before the crunch meeting, saying he disagreed with the plan, reducing the board of directors to 17.
Union sources told Reuters the six union members on EDF’s board would vote against Hinkley Point.
Mr Magnin said the imminent decision about the project, together with EDF’s planned takeover of Areva’s reactor building unit and plans to extend the lifespan of its French nuclear fleet, all went in the same direction.
The Hinkley Point project is a cornerstone of Britain’s future energy policy.
“Our members are shovel ready to start work on the country’s first nuclear power station for a generation and British companies are at the ready to build and supply this £18 billion project”.
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Down at Hinkley Point yesterday, I watched the EDF Energy staff erect the party tent in preparation for the arrival of VIPs invited to toast the final piece in the nuclear power station puzzle.
