Nuclear plant boss Julia Pyke (“‘It’s a tough gig, developing big infrastructure projects in the UK’”, Work & Careers, March 17) says “I know [some campaigners] want to believe that it’s all a terrible failure, but truly, it isn’t.”
As one of those campaigners she is trying unsuccessfully to “win over”, I would point out that all six “EPR” reactors — the type proposed for Sizewell C on the Suffolk coast — have been significantly late and over budget.
Taishan 1 in China (five years late, double its budget) was offline for almost two years early in its operational life. Olkiluoto 3 in Finland and Flamanville 3 in France have suffered teething troubles after being 14 and 12 years late and costing three and four times their budgets, respectively.
Hinkley Point C’s budget has already doubled and the project is four to six years late, with another four to six years still to go. Given her role, is it not important to understand how Pyke defines “failure”?
Alison Downes
Stop Sizewell C
Theberton, Suffolk, UK
