The UK government has given planning consent for the £20bn Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk.

This plant is being primarily funded by French energy company EDF.

Once operational, the new power plant will cater to about 7% of the country’s power needs. It will have an operational life of 60 years.

The new facility will be constructed adjacent to the current Sizewell B, which is still producing power, and the decommissioned Sizewell A.

According to EDF, this two-reactor facility could generate 3.2GW of power, which is sufficient to cater to around six million homes.

Meanwhile, discussions with the government on raising funds for the nuclear power project are on and a decision on the funding is expected next year, reported BBC.

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The government has made a commitment of investing £100m in the development of the power project and is also expected to acquire a 20% stake in it.

However, the project has been facing stiff opposition from local campaigners, who argue that it would leave an environmental impact.

The campaigners now have six weeks to decide whether to go for an appeal against the planning consent.

So far, the approval process for Sizewell C has featured four rounds of public consultation, and involved over 10,000 residents of East Suffolk, reported The Guardian.

The first round of public consultation was held in 2012.

Barclays has been appointed to secure new financial support for the project alongside the UK government, and EDF.

On the Phase I of the project, EDF worked with CGN, a Chinese state-backed nuclear specialist. However, it is understood the government of the UK is keen to leave out CGN due to concerns over the involvement of a Chinese firm in the country’s sensitive assets, reported The Guardian.
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Image: The new power plant will cater to about 7% of the country’s power needs. Credit: Bruno /Germany from Pixabay.