Brussels launches probe into Hinkley nuclear deal

摘要

Brussels has confirmed that it will open an in-depth investigation into the UK government's deal with EDF to subsidise construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, to determine whether it breaks state aid rules. Announcing the probe on Wednesday (18 December) the European Commission said it estimated that the total public subsidy going to EDF could be as much as £17bn and that it had "doubts that the project suffers from a genuine market failure" that would require state assistance. It added: "The Commission will assess whether the construction of a nuclear power station could not be achieved by market forces alone, without state intervention."