LONDON — The UK government has granted final approval to the long-delayed Sizewell C nuclear power station, marking a significant push in its strategy to strengthen energy security and meet ambitious climate goals, reported by The Nation News.
With a projected cost of £38 billion ($51 billion), Sizewell C will rise along the Suffolk coast beside its predecessors, Sizewell A and B. The plant, once operational in the 2030s, is expected to provide low-carbon electricity to six million homes and create 10,000 jobs.
The British government, now the project’s largest shareholder with a 44.9% stake, announced the final investment decision Tuesday after sealing agreements with international backers. Investors include Canadian pension giant La Caisse (20%), British Gas owner Centrica (15%), and Amber Infrastructure (7.6%). France’s EDF, already building the Hinkley Point C plant in southwest England, confirmed it will retain a reduced 12.5% stake.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband heralded the moment as “a bold step” toward revitalizing the country’s energy independence. “It is time to do big things and build big projects in this country again,” he said.
The project has been in limbo for over a decade, stalled by political wrangling and financial uncertainty. Critics, including local residents and environmental groups, warn of rising costs, safety risks, and ecological impact in the Leiston area.
Nonetheless, the government insists Sizewell C will cost 20% less than the troubled Hinkley Point C project and play a key role in the UK’s target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035, en route to net-zero by 2050.
The plant’s green light comes amid a renewed global focus on energy resilience in the shadow of war and climate disruption.
