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French unions have claimed that EDF’s decision to give the green light to Hinkley is “null and void” because the vote was made on the basis of “incomplete information”.
They said contrary to a statement made by chief executive Jean-Bernard Lévy, the French energy giant was aware the UK government intended to delay its final decision.
The £18 billion new nuclear plant in Somerset has “serious weaknesses”, the FO, CGT and CFE-CGC unions wrote in a joint statement. They said the project put both EDF and the whole of the French nuclear industry in jeopardy.
Between them the unions represent 80 per cent of EDF workers and hold five seats on firm’s board of directors. They said they believed the company was aware of the British government’s intent to review the project and that therefore “the decision of the EDF board of directors, taken on the basis of incomplete information, is null and void”.
The board voted for the project to go ahead by a margin for ten to seven during a meeting at the end of July. Within hours the government delayed its final decision until August. The Chinese ambassador to the UK has warned that the outcome of the decision could put the relationship between the UK and China at risk.
The unions also highlighted their ongoing legal battle with the management at EDF via the Central Works Council – an official body within the company which represents its workers.
In June the council filed a claim to get a consultation between itself and the company extended. They reportedly alleged that EDF had “refused” to give them access to key information, meaning they could form “a clear view on the issue”. A court is scheduled to make a decision on the matter on 22 September.
The council later sought an injunction to stop the board’s decision on Hinkley taking effect until the prior claim is heard. That request was turned down by the High Court of Paris last week on the basis that, even without an injunction, the decision could still be reversed.
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