Decision on Welsh nuclear project delayed againNuclear NewsPower & OperationsJanuary 6, 2021, 9:29AM|Nuclear News StaffArtist's concept of the Wylfa Newydd project. Image: Horizon Nuclear PowerThe U.K. government has agreed to delay until April 30 its decision regarding the issuance of a development consent order (DCO) for, the nuclear new-build project proposed for the island of Anglesey, off the northwest coast of Wales. (DCOs are required for large infrastructure projects in the United Kingdom to move forward.)The extension was granted by Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma on December 31, in response to a December 18 letter from Duncan Hawthorne, chief executive officer of Horizon Nuclear Power—the Hitachi Ltd. subsidiary still involved with Wylfa Newydd despite the parent company’s decision last year to withdraw from the project.Hawthorne had initially asked the government to delay its decision on the DCO in a September 2020 letter, citing “discussions with third parties that have expressed an interest in progressing with the development” of Wylfa Newydd. In response to that request, the United Kingdom’s Planning Inspectorate agreed to put off its decision until December 31.About those discussions: In his December 18 letter, Hawthorne asked that the decision be deferred until March 30 or such other period as the Secretary of State believes is appropriate. “Discussions with multiple parties have been positive and encouraging with regards to finding a way forward [with the Wylfa Newydd project] in Hitachi Ltd.’s absence,” he said. “Given the complexities involved in any large infrastructure project, these talks are still ongoing, and my team and I are continuing to work hard to bring them to a conclusion. . . . A further short deferral would allow us to conclude discussions to deliver a clear outcome . . . and to settle on our position regarding development consent.”Reaction: “This decision keeps the opportunity at Wylfa firmly on the table whilst talks continue,” said Virginia Crosbie, member of parliament for Anglesey. “I understand that the current discussions are progressing well, and I hope that we will see positive movement in the next couple of months.”Llinos Medi, Anglesey council leader, said, “Wylfa is one of the best sites for new nuclear development in Europe, and its future development has the potential to bring huge economic rewards and job opportunities for our young people over the next 60 years.”Tags:development consent orderhitachihorizon nuclear powerplanning inspectoratewylfa newyddShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Hitachi sunsets HorizonHitachi Ltd. plans to close Horizon Nuclear Power, its U.K. nuclear development subsidiary, early this spring, according to weekend news reports. Horizon is the firm behind Wylfa Newydd, the proposed nuclear new-build project in Wales.On January 10, citing a story that appeared earlier that day in The Times, Yahoo reported that Hitachi will close Horizon by March 31—a move, Yahoo said, that “could scupper a sale of the [Wylfa Newydd] site, which has attracted interest from bidders, including a U.S. consortium of Bechtel, Southern Company, and Westinghouse, and dent [the] U.K.’s clean energy goals.”However, a January 11 item on a Welsh online news service stated, “It is understood that if a sale of the site is not secured before Horizon shuts, the sale process will be continued by Hitachi.”Go to Article
U.S. companies said to be in talks with U.K. on Welsh nuclear projectArtist's concept of the Wylfa Newydd project. Image: Horizon Nuclear PowerThe London-based newspaper Financial Times is reporting that a consortium of U.S. firms is holding discussions with the U.K. government to revive Wylfa Newydd, the nuclear new-build project in Wales from which Tokyo-based Hitachi Ltd. withdrew in September. According to the November 10 FT story—which is based on an anonymous source—the consortium is led by Bechtel and includes Southern Company and Westinghouse.Go to Article
Deadline for proposed Welsh plant extended; third-party interest expressedArtist's concept of the Wylfa Newydd project. Image: Horizon Nuclear PowerHopes for the construction of a two-unit nuclear power station in Wales—dashed some three weeks ago when Hitachi Ltd. officially announced its withdrawal from the proposed Wylfa Newydd plant—rose again slightly last week when the United Kingdom’s Planning Inspectorate agreed to delay its decision regarding issuance of a development consent order (DCO) for the project.The original deadline for the decision had been September 30, but following the receipt of a pair of letters from Horizon Nuclear Power—the Hitachi subsidiary in charge of the project—the inspectorate consented to a December 31 extension.Go to Article
Hitachi pulls plug on Wales nuclear build projectArtist's concept of the Wylfa Newydd project. Image: Horizon Nuclear PowerTokyo-based Hitachi Ltd. today announced that it is withdrawing from the currently suspended Wylfa Newydd nuclear-build project in northwestern Wales. The announcement dashes the hopes raised last month by reports that Horizon Nuclear Power, the Hitachi subsidiary in charge of the project, was in talks with the U.K. government regarding a possible resuscitation.Hitachi had put the project on hold some 20 months ago, and in today’s announcement the company cited the length of the suspension and the COVID-19 investment environment as factors in its decision.Go to Article
Restart of Wales nuclear project could be on horizonHorizon Nuclear Power is in talks with the U.K. government to revitalize plans to build the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant in northwestern Wales, the Financial Times reported last week. Go to Article
