GOVERNMENT ministers from the UK, France and China have attended a signing ceremony giving the final go-ahead for the Hinkley Point nuclear power station to be built.

The green light for the £18 billion project in Somerset will now lead to thousands of jobs bring created during the building phase.

A so-called contract for difference was signed in London by Business Secretary Greg Clark, Jean-Bernard Levy, chairman of French energy giant EDF, and He Yu, chairman of Chinese firm CGN which has a third stake in the scheme.

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and Chinese energy minister Nur Bekri were also in attendance at the event.

Mr Clark said: "Signing the contract for difference for Hinkley Point C is a crucial moment in the UK's first new nuclear power station for a generation and follows new measures put in place by Government to strengthen security and ownership.

"Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy, and we have always been clear that nuclear power stations like Hinkley play an important part in ensuring our future low-carbon energy security."

The Low Carbon Contracts Company will manage the contract on behalf of the Government.

It provides a set price of £92.50 per megawatt hour of electricity provided by Hinkley Point C for 35 years once it begins generating.

Somerst County Councillor David Hall, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Business and Inward Investment, described it as “the news we have all been waiting for.”

Bridgwater Mercury:

“A tremendous amount of work has been happening behind the scenes to be sure that we are ready for this very moment,” he said. “We are committed to continue working together with Government, EDF and partners to see this development delivered as soon as possible and to fully realise the opportunities presented by the project to transform the local and regional economy.”

Leader of the Council, John Osman added: “Today’s contract signing is the point of no return on this extremely important project. Hinkley Point C is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our businesses, young people and the county as a whole.”

Leader of West Somerset Council, Cllr Anthony Trollope-Bellew,was in London for the signing of an historic agreement formalising the decision to proceed with the nation’s first new nuclear power station in a generation.

West Somerset Council is the host authority for Hinkley Point C and Cllr Trollope-Bellew said he was delighted to attend such a momentous occasion and to highlight West Somerset’s vital contribution to the £16 billion project.

“On behalf of West Somerset, which is the home of Hinkley Point C, our Council has long recognised the enormous economic opportunities that it will bring to our area," Cllr Trollope-Bellew said.

"Our team continues to work hard to maximise the benefits of the project for business and our communities, while at the same time ensuring that the impacts of the construction on local residents, especially those at Shurton and Burton, are minimised.

“The Council has been working with a range of partners, including EDF Energy, over many years to ensure that the area is ready to host the project and that our businesses and communities are well placed to take advantage of the huge opportunity.”

During construction alone, the project is expected to bring £200 million to the local economy. Over the lifetime of the project, the regional economy is set to benefit by around £4 billion.