So, the £12.5bn deal to sell British Energy to the French giant EDF is being touted as ‘good value for the taxpayer’ by Gordon Brown.

If the deal is confirmed, the French will not only take control of the eight BE nuclear sites around Britain, it will also take possession of the land around them where new reactors could be built.  EDF will therefore establish itself as a leading player in both the supply of British nuclear energy and the future development of new British nuclear power stations. 

Meanwhile, the British Government will pocket billions from its 36% stake.

State-owned EDF is the largest European supplier of electricity and it already serves gas and electricity to around 5 million British households, all of whom are still reeling from the huge hike in energy costs earlier this year.

Exactly how the British taxpayer will benefit from selling off the countrys’ nuclear assets remains to be seen.  Will we see cheaper household energy bills?  I somehow doubt it.

Mini-post by Alan Potts

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