Sizewell

Sizewell B is Britain's only pressurised water reactor (PWR), and is near Leiston in Suffolk with enough power for two million homes; Sizewell A had opened in 1966 and Bradwell had opened in 1962.

China General Nuclear last year dropped out of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant project in Suffolk but the Intelligence and Security Committee last weekend warned that it had serious questions about future projects.

His last set piece, at the Sizewell nuclear plant, began: “Now, when I was a child, I had a wonderful book – a much-thumbed Ladybird book called r.” And, you know what, he feels the same about nuclear power today.

One new station – Hinkley Point C in Somerset – is already under construction, while another – Sizewell C in Suffolk – has received planning permission.

Framatome said the contract signing “follows the British Government Investment Decision in November 2022 to approve the construction of two EPR reactors at Sizewell on the Suffolk Coast”.

The Stop Sizewell C campaign group which opposes the scheme warned it is costly, diverting investment from other green energy sources such as renewables and would damage tourism and nature in the area.

Sizewell will be at an even greater advantage because it will use the same UK workers once Hinkley is complete.

The outage has been compared to a similar blackout in May 2008 when the Sizewell B nuclear plant in Suffolk and the Longannet coal-fired station in Fife went offline within minutes of each other.