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The French trade unions which are represented on EDF’s board are “unlikely to give their blessings” to Hinkley Point C “in its current form”, according to the secretary of company’s central works committee.
Speaking to Newsnight Jean-Luc Magneval said: “We have reservations about several aspects of the project: organisation, supply chain, installation, and procurement.”
He added: “The trade unions are unlikely to give their blessings to the project in its current state. We are not reassured by the documents we have received. We have been given a marketing folders not the full information we require.”
Earlier this week the chief executive of EDF Energy Vincent de Rivaz told MPs the project is ready and the finances are in place, but a final investment decision is on hold whilst employees are consulted via the central works committee.
He conceded “there is a difference of opinion at the moment” between EDF and trade unions, with some raisings concerns about the company’s finances and calling for the project to be delayed. Ratings agency Moody’s recently downgraded EDF’s credit rating, saying it could drop even lower if Hinkley goes ahead.
De Rivaz said he was “confident” that the fears of the unions could be allayed through the consultation, which began on 2 May and will last for a minimum of 60 days.
Hinkley is dependent on financial support from the French state, which owns an 85 per cent in EDF. In April French economy minister Emmanuel Macron indicated the government’s assistance was conditional on EDF holding a consultation with trade unions.
At the same time he revealed that a final investment decision might not be made until as late as September. De Rivaz had previously told the Energy and Climate Change Committee it would be “very reasonable” to assume a decision would be made by mid-May.
Earlier this week it was reported that the French government was considering selling its stake in car manufacturer Peugeot to help fund its package of financial support for EDF.
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