UK government approves new $24B nuclear plant

LONDON

The British government approved on Wednesday a new £20 billion ($24 billion) nuclear power plant in Suffolk, east England.

The Sizewell C plant, as it is known, will be built by EDF, an energy company largely owned by French state, which has claimed the site will be able to power up to 6 million homes.

The two-rector Sizewell C plant will be built next to the already existing Sizewell B plant.

The British government has repeatedly delayed a final decision on the Sizewell C plant, but it finally gave approval.

The new plant is part of a new wave of nuclear plants, which alongside increased energy from offshore wind and hydrogen, form a key part of the government's green energy strategy.

Some have criticized the new plant on environmental and economic grounds.

Caroline Lucas, the only Green MP in the British parliament, tweeted: "A massively costly white elephant – nuclear is most expensive way of generating electricity anywhere in world – and coming online at 2040 at earliest, it will arrive far too late to help meet target of decarbonizing electricity by 2035 – such a shameful decision."

Carly Vince, Sizewell C's chief planning officer, said: "I am delighted that, after months of careful consideration, the government has given planning consent for Sizewell C. It is a big endorsement of our proposals and supports our view that this is the right project in the right place."

She added: "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."