High civil servant joins EDF after operating division that struck nuclear deal

One of many UK’s most senior civil servants, Alex Chisholm, has been revealed as the brand new UK chair of the power firm EDF, after having beforehand run the division that struck a deal for it to construct a brand new nuclear energy station.

Chisholm was everlasting secretary on the Cupboard Workplace, and earlier than that led the enterprise division, which labored on the federal government deal for EDF to go forward with the Hinkley Level C nuclear plant in Somerset. The settlement was struck in 2016 with UK invoice payers bearing the cost of the construction over a 35-year period.

The long-delayed venture’s prices have soared from an estimated £18bn to at the least £31bn and it is because of be accomplished in 2031 – about 14 years after EDF thought it could be up and operating.

The French state-owned firm is a specialist in nuclear energy, and one of many “large six” power suppliers which have been criticised for big earnings in the course of the power disaster sparked by the warfare in Ukraine.

Chisholm’s departure is one in every of plenty of high-profile exits from the civil service earlier than a probable change of governing celebration. Alex Aiken, a former longstanding head of presidency communications, just lately left Whitehall for a job as an adviser on communications to the federal government of the United Arab Emirates.

There may be additionally hypothesis about the way forward for Simon Case, the cupboard secretary and former royal aide put in by Boris Johnson, given incoming prime ministers typically need their very own most popular candidate within the job.

Chisholm’s EDF position was authorised by the watchdog on post-government jobs, often called the Advisory Committee on Enterprise Appointments. However the watchdog mentioned he should wait three months after departing authorities to take up the job and observe a ban on lobbying the federal government or involvement in negotiating authorities contracts for 2 years after leaving workplace.

The watchdog mentioned: “In 2016, his division was liable for the choice on finalising the primary contract for distinction [a pricing mechanism], with respect to EDF and the development of Hinkley Point C. Nonetheless, this was in the end a choice for the secretary of state and adopted the 2014 approval from the European Fee and was based mostly on phrases agreed then, 10 years in the past.

“Considerably, because of the time frame that has elapsed, the committee didn’t contemplate Sir Alex might moderately be seen to have influenced this resolution in anticipation of a proposal of labor a decade later.”

Chisholm mentioned his appointment got here “at a time of nice change and alternative within the power sector”.

“EDF continues to spend money on nuclear, wind, photo voltaic and battery infrastructure to supply clients safe, clear and reasonably priced electrical energy,” he mentioned. “I sit up for attending to know all elements of the corporate, and to serving to EDF serve the wants and priorities of the UK.”

Simone Rossi, EDF’s UK boss, mentioned: “Sir Alex brings nice non-public and public sector management, governance and regulatory expertise that may assist steer the corporate’s efforts to assist Britain obtain web zero.”