The government is considering taking equity stakes in future nuclear plants such as Sizewell C, the energy minister has confirmed.
Kwasi Kwarteng said that an energy white paper likely to be published next month would include a broad commitment to more nuclear power, although how new plants would be paid for remained a question for further debate.
The government had concluded that the option of using a regulated asset base (RAB) model to support private investment in new nuclear plants would still result in the multibillion-pound liabilities showing on the government’s balance sheet, he said.
The Treasury therefore was studying the RAB model and was looking at whether the government should have equity stakes in projects so that it could have “upside” from its commitment.
