London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025

Cost Surge Looms Over UK's Sizewell C Nuclear Project

Cost Surge Looms Over UK's Sizewell C Nuclear Project

Projected expenses for Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk could soar to £40 billion, raising concerns and highlighting broader energy challenges.
The proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk, intended to bolster the UK's energy transition, faces potential cost escalations to nearly £40 billion, according to recent reports.

The Financial Times, citing individuals close to the project's negotiations, suggests that the latest cost projections are double the initial estimates provided by the developer, French energy giant EDF, just a few years ago.

The UK's government has distanced itself from these figures, with Sizewell C's managing directors dismissing the £40 billion estimate as inaccurate.

Despite the contention over costs, the importance of nuclear energy continues to be emphasized by officials working towards a low-carbon electricity grid by 2030. Nuclear power remains a pivotal component for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and Sizewell C is seen as a crucial project in achieving these goals.

Currently, Britain’s last operational nuclear plant, Sizewell B, was completed in 1987. Meanwhile, the Hinkley Point C project in Somerset, another EDF venture, aims to supply power to six million homes upon completion, anticipated around 2031. However, delays and inflated construction costs at Hinkley Point C have raised concerns about the viability of Sizewell C's original budget.

The Treasury is reportedly evaluating whether to authorize Sizewell C in an upcoming fiscal review.

EDF and the UK government remain the primary proponents of the project, actively seeking additional investment from companies such as Centrica, Schroders Greencoat, and international entities including the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Amber Infrastructure Group.

Preliminary comments from senior government and industry sources speculate that a £40 billion construction cost, adjusted for 2025 pricing, is plausible.

Campaigners and some industry analysts have expressed concerns regarding the escalating expenses.

Alison Downes, executive director of the advocacy group Stop Sizewell C, has called for transparency from the government, citing the project's "massive cost." Likewise, Dale Vince, founder of energy firm Ecotricity and a key Labour Party contributor, questioned the project's financing model in a communique to the government's Office for Value for Money.

Vince argued that the financial burden on consumers could precede any energy output, amid evidence that a sustainable energy future might be attainable without nuclear options.

In response, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson reiterated the strategic importance of new nuclear facilities like Sizewell C, highlighting contributions to UK energy security, skilled job creation, and reduced energy costs.

Sizewell C's joint managing directors, Nigel Cann and Julia Pyke, emphasized cost-saving initiatives derived from the Hinkley Point C project, advocating for the necessity of nuclear in a stable, low-carbon energy landscape.

However, France's national auditor, Cour des Comptes, has advised EDF to postpone its final investment decision until mitigating its financial responsibilities at Hinkley Point C. This recommendation underscores the broader financial and strategic challenges facing EDF as it navigates multiple large-scale nuclear projects.

As debates continue over logistics and funding, EDF's commitment remains under scrutiny, amid concerns that delays might further inflate the project's final cost.

Discussions with potential stakeholders remain ongoing, with the focus on securing a financially viable path forward for Sizewell C.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Alberta's Push for Independence Raises Questions About Canada's National Unity
Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser, dies by suicide
"China has survived for five thousand years, most of it without the United States as a market, and it can easily continue to survive without the U.S. market for another five thousand years — no problem," said a China analyst.
Elites vs. America: How Democrats Lost the Plot and the People
Pam Bondi Details Wisconsin Judge’s Actions Before Arrest: 'Can't Make This Up'
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Peter Navarro: The Man Behind Trump’s Tariff Madness
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
×