Centrica withdraws from nuclear plant programme

Energy firm Centrica which has its head office in Windsor has withdrawn from the UK's nuclear re-building programme.

The Maidenhead Road company said it had taken the decision because of increasing costs and delays in the project.

Centrica had the option of taking a 20 per cent stake in four new reactors in a partnership with EDF, the French state-owned utility.

The firm's intention had been to get involved in the two new reactors at Hinkley Point, in Somerset, and two at Sizewell, in Suffolk.

Chief executive Sam Laidlaw, said the lengthening time frame and costs meant 'participation is not right' for Centrica.

But its 20 per cent interest in the eight existing nuclear power stations in the UK is unaffected by the decision.

Nuclear plants being proposed by EDF would be the first such facilities to be built in the UK since 1995