EDF Looks to Appoint John Hutton as Senior Advisor

Former Business Secretary John Hutton is in talks with EDF Energy to join the utility giant’s team as a senior adviser. EDF Energy, is the British subsidairy of the French state-run nuclear power company. EDF confirmed to press that they were currently in communication with John Hutton in regards to him reviewing several “key strategic issues” for the firm.

Financial and contract details were no released and the energy company was quick to point out that the deal was not official yet as no appointment has been made at this time. EDF told press that any appointment would have to first undergo review and approval from the Independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, a committee which is responsible for advising the Prime Minister.

Hutton, who up until last year had been serving as Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, was one of the biggest advocates for EDF’s takeover of British Energy. Prior to EDF acquiring British Energy, the UK’s largest controller of nuclear power sites, was 35 percent owned by the government. 

The acquisition met with protest from environmental groups, more specifically with Greenpeace, who spoke out against the acquisition stating that the appointment will indicate a “cosy” relationship between nuclear power industry and the British government.

EDF Energy has planned to use the acquisition of British Energy to build four different nuclear facilities around the UK based on a French model. The plants, which individually will produce 1,600 MW, are scheduled to be operating for the next 60 years. The first plant will begin being built in 2013 and nuclear power generation can start as early as 2017. Each plant will produce enough power to provide electricity to a city roughly the same in size as Manchester.

EDF is the globe’s largest utility company and last year reported a total profit margin of over €15 billion (£13 billion). EDF is based in France, where the utility owns 59 nuclear power reactors, which combined generate over 85 percent of France’s total electricity needs.