EDF’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project has hit yet another hurdle after it has been revealed that the UN Economic and Social Council rules that the UK failed to comply with requisite safety consultation obligations.
The Guardian revealed an advanced unedited copy of the results of a meeting held by the UN committee during which the transboundary environmental impact of the Hinkley project (i.e. it’s impact on neighbouring countries) and others was discussed.
The UNESC found that the nature of the project is such that a “significant adverse transboundary impact cannot be excluded in case of a major accident”. The UN requires that in such situations, the country responsible must consult with neighbouring countries regarding the safety impact of a potential accident. Having failed to do so, according to the UNESC, “the United Kingdom is in non-compliance with its obligations”.
This is not the first report of this kind criticising the government’s handling of the Hinkley project.
Back in 2013, the Irish National Trust, An Taisce, criticised the government for failing to consult with Irish authorities on the Hinkley project and the potential impact thereof, despite “the nuclear power plant being nearer to the coast of Ireland than it is to Leeds”. An Taisce took the case to the British courts but were overruled.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change have insisted repeatedly that no obligations had been breached.
A spokesperson said: “Compliance with international obligations is something we take very seriously.
“”We are confident that we have met the relevant international requirements in relation to Hinkley Point C. We have world-leading nuclear safety regulations in the UK, which Hinkley Point C would have to comply with.”
In relation to the kind of criticism that has now come from the UN (and the failed objections from An Traisce), the government has insisted that there is no risk of “significant transboundary environmental impacts” from Hinkley.
Indeed this particular dispute has been ongoing, with more and more countries arguing against the UK.
Norway, Iceland, the Netherlands and Austria have all argued that there is significant risk that fallout from an accident could lead to radioactive materials being carried across Europe by the wind.
Now that these complaints have been formally ratified by the UNESC, they are likely to gain more traction.
The UN have proposed various recommendations for the UK in order for the project to comply with international safety obligations.
They recommend that the UK “endorse the findings of the Implementation Committee” and “enter into discussions with possible affected Parties, including Parties that cannot exclude a significant adverse transboundary impact from the activity at HPC [Hinkley Point C], in order to agree on whether notification is useful at the current stage for this proposed activity.”
Looking forwards, they “urge the United Kingdom to ensure that, in the context of any future decision-making regarding the planned construction of a NPP [nuclear power plant], notifications are sent” to the UN committee and to potentially affected countries.
UCL researcher Paul Dorfman described the UN ruling as “a huge blow to the government”.
He said: “[it] introduces a whole new element of doubt over the scheme. It is hard to see how EDF can sign off any final investment decision whilst the government has yet to resolve this important issue.”
