Britain’s energy secretary Amber Rudd has voiced hopes that a deal with France and China to build the first in a new generation of UK nuclear plants will be reached “very soon”, with negotiators working flat out to agree financing.
Senior executives from French energy group EDF are trying to finalise terms for the £24bn Hinkley Point power station with their Chinese nuclear industry partners, just days before premier Xi Jinping makes a state visit to London.
Industry insiders said the two sides were aiming to agree a commercial pact in time for next week’s visit, that would lead to a final investment decision on the plant shortly afterwards.