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Europe aims to rule on state aid for Hinkley Point C by the end of the year, according to competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia.
The European Commission raised substantial challenges to the UK government’s plans to subsidise EDF Energy’s new nuclear plant in a letter published last month.
It questioned why Hinkley Point needed support, including a guaranteed power price of £92.50/MWh and construction guarantees, when other nuclear plants are being built in France and Finland without.
While UK ministers insist they are “confident” of persuading the Commission the aid is legitimate, the large gap between the two positions has raised the prospect of compromise and delay.
However, Almunia assured journalists on Friday: “We need the UK authorities’ cooperation. My intention is to be able to adopt a final decision on this before the end of the year.”
Meanwhile, EDF Energy is understood to be planning to run some of its old nuclear plants for longer. In 2012, it announced 7-year life extensions for Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B, taking them up to 2023.
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