British nuclear power proposal gets nod

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LONDON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The British government welcomed a decision by the European Commission to back a nuclear power station in the south of the country.

The European Commission expressed its support for an investment plan by EDF Energy to build its Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. The commission said the plan "fulfills the objectives" of a European atomic energy treaty to develop a sustainable energy mix.

"The U.K. government welcomes this positive development which represents a confident step forward for EDF's plans to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point," a statement read.

The British Department of Energy and Climate Change notes plans are under way to develop up to 16 gigawatts of new nuclear power capacity in the country by 2025. Reactors at Hinkley Point in part would account for about 6 MW.

The two generating units at Hinkley Point C would be situated west of the existing Hinkley Point power stations in Somerset in the south of the country.

Humphrey Hudson, a managing director for nuclear programs at EDF Energy, said the company would work to obtain necessary planning and regulatory consents.

"We are delighted that the European Commission has given the Hinkley Point C project a clean bill of health," he said in a statement.