Nuclear giants RWE and E.ON

[La Poste]

The government's nuclear energy policy is in disarray after German utilities RWE and E.ON scrapped plans to build two reactors in the UK.

Progress on those projects was shelved on Thursday when Horizon's owners put the business on the market, citing doubts over financing the projects and costs associated with the German government's decision to abandon nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

France's EDF, the biggest player in nuclear power in the UK with four reactors under development and eight in operation, has been mooted as a potential buyer of Horizon.

The Horizon news also raises questions over E.ON's and RWE's bills to UK consumers. High bills have been justified by the need to finance major investments in nuclear power. That explanation faces challenges in the wake of today's news. RWE owns npower in the UK.

Nuclear giants RWE and E.ON drop plans to build new UK reactors | Environment | The Guardian

 

[La Poste]

Two Chinese state companies have backed rival bids to build nuclear power plants in Britain, it has emerged.

The move is likely to be controversial but could provide a lifeline for ministers’ ambitions for a new generation of nuclear power plants.

Government hopes were thrown into doubt in March when German utilities RWE and E.on withdrew from plans to build plants at Wylfa on Anglesey and at Oldbury in Gloucestershire.

Chinese companies bid to build new UK nuclear power plants - Telegraph

 

[La Poste]

China is poised to make a dramatic intervention in Britain's energy future by offering to invest billions of pounds in building a series of new nuclear power stations.

Officials from China's nuclear industry have been in high-level talks with ministers and officials at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) this week about a plan that could eventually involve up to five different reactors being built at a total cost of £35bn.

" It seems regrettable that in return for this investment the Chinese are not being required to halt the cyberattacks and the theft of intellectual property in which they are now the world leaders."

China in talks to build UK nuclear power plants | Environment | The Guardian

 

[Fin170]

The Chinese seem to think more into the future than anybody else does these days. So long as somebody starts building them, rolling black outs will make work even harder for us. That, and reaching our Co2 targets. Still got my fingers crossed that the LFTR will receive a sudden flow of cash for research and development