The government has delayed its final decision on the controversial £18 billion nuclear power development at Hinkley Point C.
Following weeks of talks, government officials had been expected to meet with representatives of French energy giant EDF this week and give the green light for work to go ahead.
Indeed, while the EDF board has approved funding for the project, the government has stated it will now make a final decision on the initiative, which will represent the first time a new nuclear power plant has been built in the UK for 20 years, in the autumn.
Despite the setback, EDF Group chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy, has expressed his optimism that the project will be given the official go-ahead soon, saying he has "no doubt about the support of the British government led by Mrs May".
At the same time, however, workers' representatives have signalled their frustration at this latest setback, calling for the government to take more decisive action and stop its "dithering".
Should the work go ahead, it is estimated that the construction of a new power plant at Hinkley Point C will create as many as 25,000 new job. Moreover, a majority of construction contracts will go to UK firms.
