UK’s £14.2bn Sizewell C nuclear power plant gets the go-ahead

Announcing the news ahead of tomorrow’s government Spending Review, the Treasury said Chancellor Rachel Reeves would confirm £14.2 billion (€16.8 billion) in funding for the project later today (10 June).

French energy giant EDF Energy, which is also overseeing the construction of Hinkley Point C in Somerset, will oversee the construction of the 3.2GW plant.

It has already signed contracts with local companies worth £330 million (€390.3 million) for work on Sizewell C.

Sizewell C will use the same design as Hinkley Point C, which is being built by the BYLOR joint venture (Bouygues and Laing O’Rourke). Sizewell C will house a third and fourth in a series of UK EPR pressurised water reactors and EDF hopes that replicating the design will result in efficiencies when it comes to their construction.

Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, joint-managing directors of Sizewell C said, “Today marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Sizewell C, the UK’s first British-owned nuclear power plant in over 30 years. It’s a privilege to be leading a project that will create over 10,000 jobs, secure Britain’s energy future and revitalise the UK’s nuclear industry.

“We aim to showcase British infrastructure at its best – delivering a cleaner, more secure energy future for generations to come.”