French Unions expected to refuse to give opinion in EDF’s Hinkley consultation
Major French unions are expected today to refuse to give their final opinion as part of the consultation with the EDF board over whether state owned the company should invest in Hinkley nuclear power station.
In May, EDF boss Jean-Bernard Levy gave the unions a 60 day consultation period to give their decision on the investment. This consultation, due to end today, was the reason by the French government for delaying the Final Investment Decision on Hinkley until September.
The unions, whose representatives make up a third of the EDF board, have also issued a legal challenge at the High Court in Paris against EDF for refusing to supply the evidence they required to make a decision. This hearing will be on 22nd September.
The unions have asked for the consultation to be extended until after the outcome of this hearing. The judge could order EDF to give the union representatives more detailed information on the financial consequences for EDF if the decision is given to go ahead.
The French Unions including CGT, CFE-CGC and the FO issued a joint statement to EDF calling for the decision to be delayed based on the political and economic uncertainty in the UK after the EU referendum results.
The unions have had long standing concerns over the outstanding technical and internal financial issues over proceeding with Hinkley. There is as yet no working reactor in the world using the Hinkley design, and they fear that EDF may bankrupt itself trying to deliver nuclear power using the same failed design in the UK.
John Sauven, Greenpeace director said
“The French unions are justifiably concerned that EDF’s investment in Hinkley Point will bankrupt the company. According to the ratings agencies and financial analysts, it is not looking good for the company. And top competition barristers say the recapitalisation plan that the French government needs is likely to fall foul of EU competition laws.
“In the UK, Brexit is throwing up endless questions that no one knows the answers to over the future of the European energy market. It would be idiocy of the highest magnitude for the UK government in its current incarnation to sign this disastrous deal.
“The government should at the very least have a plan B of reliable, homegrown renewable energy which will provide jobs, investment and keep bills affordable.”
In May, the Finance Minister said that the decision would now likely to come in September. However, September was not a timeline confirmed by EDF UK CEO Vincent de Rivaz when he appeared in front of the Energy and Climate Change Committee. They repeatedly asked him to give a firm date that the decision would be made by but he refused to say.
ENDS