The UK government granted development consent to the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk in the East of England on Wednesday, in a move that has drawn fierce opposition from eco-activists.
According to the UK authorities, the NPP will produce “reliable, low-carbon electricity to help Britain achieve Net Zero,” and will have the capacity to supply six million homes with energy. The cost of the new 3.2-gigawatt project, mostly funded by French company EDF, is estimated at £20 billion ($24 billion). Sizewell C will be built next to the operational Sizewell B, and Sizewell A, which was decommissioned in 2006.
EDF touted the move as “the biggest milestone so far in the approval process.”
“Sizewell C will be good for the region, creating thousands of opportunities for local people and businesses. It will boost local biodiversity and leave a legacy Suffolk can be proud of,” Carly Vince, Sizewell C’s chief planning officer, said, vowing to work closely with local residents to address their concerns.