EDF Energy has named Bouygues TP/Laing O’Rourke Joint Venture as the preferred bidder for a £2bn contract for civils work to build the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.
The announcement was promptly welcomed by Energy Minister, Ed Davey, who said: “I want to see new nuclear come forward as part of our future energy mix and for the UK to be a leading global destination for investment in new build.”
The work itself, which is subject to planning consent and EDF Energy taking its final investment decision at the end of this year, includes the construction of the main civils works for the nuclear island, the conventional island and supporting structures.
The contract is the first relating to the main construction works at Hinkley Point C which it’s claimed will see up to 25,000 jobs created on site over the course of the project.
EDF Energy said the preferred bidder announcement was a critical step in their plans, with Centrica, to build the first new nuclear reactors in the UK for around 20 years, providing ‘enough low carbon electricity to power five million homes’.
