New timetable for new nuclear power generation at Oldbury

Further to your request to be kept up to date with our plans to build a new nuclear power station at Oldbury-on-Severn, this is to advise on our new development timetable.

As you are aware Horizon Nuclear Power, the joint venture between E.ON UK and RWE npower, has plans to develop around 6,000MW of new nuclear electricity generating capacity across its two sites at Oldbury and Wylfa on Anglesey by 2025 – subject to them being included within a new national Nuclear National Policy Statement.

Over the last few months we have been working on a detailed programme to deliver the electricity capacity needed to help replace the country’s ageing energy infrastructure and to meet future demand. One of the conclusions of this review is that it would not be  the best approach to begin construction on both  of our sites at the same time. As a result, we have opted for a phased approach to development and construction which will allow us to dedicate the necessary time, money and expertise to each site throughout the development process.

At Oldbury we had been working on the basis that the earliest a planning application could be submitted would be the end of 2011. Today we are announcing our plans to change that date to 2014.  Preliminary works could then commence in 2016, followed by main construction in 2019, playing a key role in achieving Horizon's overall aim of delivering around 6,000MW of new nuclear power for the UK by 2025.

At Wylfa we hope to be in a position to submit applications for consent in 2012 and expect the first of up to three reactors to be generating electricity there from 2020.

Wylfa and Oldbury are both strong sites but once we decided a phased approach was sensible we needed to make a choice on which to build first. We would like to make use of the additional time at Oldbury to work with our key stakeholders and the public to develop our ideas further – particularly in areas such as flood protection measures, the cooling system and transport options. After that we would begin the full Environmental Impact Assessment work, prior to submitting a planning application. The new timeline will also allow us to work closely with statutory and non-statutory groups – as well as local people – on all aspects of our plans for Oldbury.

Other than the timing, our plans for Oldbury remain unchanged. The proposed new plant would be built on land adjacent to the existing Magnox station, which is due to stop generating electricity in 2011. Our new plant would create up to 800 permanent jobs at the new power station – and many thousands more during construction – while generating low-carbon electricity for millions of homes.

I would like to reinforce our commitment to an ongoing programme of engagement with you as our plans develop.

In the meantime, further information can be found on our website www.horizonnuclearpower.com or, if you have any questions, we can also be contacted on our freephone number 0800 130 3125 or by emailing us at oldburyenquiries@horizonnuclearpower.com

Yours faithfully,

Tim Proudler

Planning and Consents Manager Oldbury

Horizon Nuclear Power