After members of TASC had a successful meeting at the end of July with the new minister, Lord Hunt, at The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero nuclear forum, we were understandably disappointed to hear of his ‘secret’ visit to Sizewell. It would have been the perfect opportunity to meet local council members and NGO representatives which even his predecessor had agreed to.
No doubt the Sizewell C team was keen not to have the usual Stop Sizewell C/TASC greeting at the gates of SZB but we are sure there will be other opportunities to meet and greet.
The other surprise was the £5.5 bn promised to the project on top of £2.5bn already committed by the last government, a total of £8bn and still no guarantee of investors. Let’s hope this doesn’t turn into Suffolk’s very own, HS2 disaster.
Meanwhile, TASC has sent two letters to Lord Hunt which can be viewed below. We await replies to both letters.
We urge you to write to your MP or Lord Hunt with your concerns.
TOGETHER AGAINST SIZEWELL C (TASC) STATEMENT FOR MINISTER 30TH JULY 2024
The reality of Sizewell C is that many important lessons have not been learnt from Hinkley Point C, contrary to what is claimed. Fiscal concerns that TASC wish to draw to the Minister’s attention, include:-
EDF claims that early cost increases at HPC were largely due to unforeseen ground conditions yet trials testing the suitability of Sizewell’s ground conditions still aren’t complete.
HPC’s workforce has increased to 15,000 while a maximum figure of 7,800 is still being cited for Sizewell C.
There is still no sustainable guaranteed supply of potable water, making it more likely a permanent desalination plant will be required for operation
Proponents of Sizewell C have welcomed the granting of the nuclear site licence but the ONR’s documentation exposes further issues with cost implications:-
· the licenced area of 25 hectares obviously cannot accommodate the 32-hectare nuclear complex, removing the ability to construct the all-important cut-off wall
· the final design of the sea defences is scoped out of assessment so it has not been demonstrated that the nuclear site can be kept safe until all spent fuel is removed
· new proposals for two 20-feet high ‘overland flood barriers’ were not included in the DCO project approved by the Secretary of State and therefore not assessed as to cost, effectiveness nor environmental impact.
· the site lifetime has been extended by 20 years to 2160 meaning the costly adaptive sea defences and flood barriers are more likely to be needed
Despite these issues, the previous government pressed ahead with Sizewell C regardless, replicating the cavalier behaviour witnessed at HS2. £2.5 billion of public funds has already been committed and used to cause substantial environmental damage to the AONB and Sizewell Marshes SSSI by felling over 100 acres of trees, ripping up miles of hedging, covering acres with concrete, tarmac and hard standing, killing or displacing large amounts of wildlife. All for a project that may not go ahead due to lack of investors and lack of final proposals. We are hoping for much better from this government and request a halt to the project until all uncertainties are resolved.
