Taxpayers will not have to cover additional costs for the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, a minister has told the commons.
French energy giant EDF is aiming for the plant, being built near Bridgwater in Somerset, to become a major source of decarbonised electricity for the 海角视频, providing around 7% of national consumption.
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire was reported to have said last week that it would be 鈥渇air鈥 for Britain to share the burden of expected extra costs.
When the commercial agreement for the plant was reached in 2013, the costs were estimated at 拢14bn, and it was expected to be operational by 2023.
The latest estimate from earlier this year said costs could reach 拢46bn 鈥 拢31bn to 拢34bn in 2015 prices 鈥 with the first reactor potentially ready in 2029.
Energy minister Andrew Bowie told the commons on Thursday: 鈥淗inkley Point C is not a Government project. And EDF is responsible for its delivery. Additional costs will not fall to the taxpayer, whatever you might be reading in the press.鈥
He was speaking during a backbench debate in the commons on the government鈥檚 civil nuclear road map.
Speaking for the SNP, Hannah Bardell told the house that Hinkley Point C is 鈥渘ot value for money鈥 and that costs are 鈥渟taggering鈥.
