Hinkley nuclear reactor project gains EU approval, leak reveals

British plans for a nuclear renaissance centred on a nuclear reactor in Somerset achieved a breakthrough after a nine-month European Union state aid investigation ended with a call for Brussels to approve the project.

The EU’s competition commissioner, Joaquín Almunia, had expressed scepticism that the Hinkley Point C scheme could satisfy the EU’s state aid criteria after the UK government agreed to underwrite the project with a loan guarantee and a commitment on the price of the electricity generated by the power station.

Green groups condemned the commissioner's U-turn on the subject and the Austrian chancellor announced that the country would take the European Commission to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) if the executive approved Britain's plans.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into UK measures supporting nuclear energy http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-state-aid-commission-opens-in-depth-investigation-into-uk-measures-supporting-nuclear-energy/

The Guardian, 23.09.14: Hinkley nuclear reactor project gains EU approval, leak reveals http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/22/hinkley-point-nuclear-reactor-gains-eu-approval

The Telegraph, 22.09.14: UK strikes deal with EU over Hinkley Point nuclear plant http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11113445/UK-strikes-deal-with-EU-over-Hinkley-Point-nuclear-plant.html

BBC News, 22.09.14: Hinkley nuclear power plant recommended for approval http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-29317800

The Wall Street Journal, 22.09.14: EU Regulators Approve New U.K. Nuclear Plant http://online.wsj.com/articles/eu-set-to-approve-new-u-k-nuclear-plant-1411400226

EurActiv, 06.10.14: Austria will sue if EU regulator clears UK nuclear plant plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/austria-says-will-sue-if-eu-regulator-clears-uk-nuclear-plant-plan-308943

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