France's economy minister has confirmed the government supports French energy company EDF's nuclear power plant project at Hinkley Point.

Emmanuel Macron told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper today that the final investment decision "may be confirmed next September".

The decision was expected in May but EDF, which is majority-owned by the French government, decided on Friday to take more time to consult with the company's unions. Some of them have expressed concerns about the financing of the €24 billion euro project.

Macron insisted the project must not be further delayed.

The Hinkley Point nuclear power plant in Somerset could ultimately produce seven per cent of British electricity and create 25,000 jobs, according to EDF. It had been due to start producing electricity in 2023.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.