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Business Matters: Hinkley Point gets UK government approval

News

UK Approves Controversial Nuclear Plant

16/09/2016 GMT

Hinkley Point gets UK government approval

BBC World Service - Business Matters, Hinkley Point gets UK government approval

Hinkley Point gets the go-ahead; ICC to rule on environmental cases; Corporate Away-Days

UK gives approval for a new nuclear power station with help from France and China, but will it really happen? The International Criminal Court to widen its remit.

After some playing hard to get on both sides, the British government has put an end to the tantalising “will-they-won’t-they” it enjoyed with French energy company EDF. It has approved the first new nuclear power station in the UK for 30 years, at Hinkley point in the West of England. The stakes were high for the UK and the decision goes some way to answering how they will keep the lights on in the next decades, as other stations come to the end of their life. Since China General Nuclear is also a major financier of Hinkley, the approval seems to send a positive message to potential Chinese investors in other crucial UK projects. Yet the deal remains controversial for many in the UK and in France, and still faces financial and technical challenges. The US Justice Department says the FBI has uncovered evidence that CGN has been involved in a conspiracy to steal American nuclear secrets. Will this prove yet to be a sticking point? We look at how likely successful construction is and what the arguments are.

The International Criminal Court wants to widen its remit. No longer just associated with chasing down war criminals and human rights abusers, soon it could be prosecuting individuals AND governments for environmental crime and land-grabbing. The campaign group Global Witness welcomes the move and we hear from them.

How familiar are you with “Grime”? Bottom of the class if you think we’re talking about household cleaning, and top marks if you realised we’re referring to an edgy British hip-hop musical sub genre. One of its rising stars, Skepta has just won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize that was widely tipped to be won posthumously by David Bowie. We find out more about Skepta and listen to some of his winning album, Konnichiwa.  

 Plus what do horses have to do with the world of business? Elizabeth Hotson indulges in a spot of workplace team building. 

Roger Hearing is joined throughout the programme by James Rooney, Vice Chairman of the Seoul Financial Forum, and Elmira Bayrasli, author of the book “From the Other Side of the World: Extraordinary Entrepeneurs, Unlikely Places”

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