The new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station’s Unit 1 planned opening has been delayed by around six months and the cost of the project is expected to rise again, the energy firm behind the plant revealed.
EDF said significant progress has been made on the site in Somerset but the start of electricity generation is now expected in June 2026, compared with previous estimates of an opening date at the end of 2025.
The cost for the project is now estimated at between £22 billion and £23 billion, compared with projected costs of £21.5 billion and £22.5 billion announced in 2019.
The coronavirus crisis led to a number of changes on the Hinkley site, including reducing the number of workers to enable social distancing, and concentrating on the most critical areas of construction.
Where social distancing is not possible, workers have been using extra protective equipment.
New figures issued last week also show that Hinkley Point C beat its ambition to spend £1.5 billion with regional businesses five years ahead of target.
Hinkley Point C managing director Stuart Crooks said: “I want to thank workers and our union partners for their extraordinary efforts to make safe working possible during the pandemic.
“They have adapted to major changes in everyday behaviours and working practices which would have been unimaginable a few months ago.
“Hinkley Point C has a strong culture of learning and innovation which is leading to improved productivity as we get ahead building our second identical reactor. This experience is a great basis for further identical reactors at Sizewell C.”
