Earlier, Areva announced its plans to acquire 10% stake in the project. However, due to four years of losses, the firm has decided to divest its reactor division to EDF. The transaction is due to complete this year.
With the deal, EDF will now have to hold majority stake of 66.5% in nuclear power project. Chinese partner CGN signed an agreement in October 2015 to acquire a 33.5% stake the project.
According to the French newspaper Les Echos, EDF is seeking help from the French Government, which owns 85% of the utility, to find another state entity which could acquire the stake assigned initially for Areva.
Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said: "The EDF board is clearly rattled as they delay yet again this crucial investment decision.
"EDF managers as well as employee representatives on the board are deeply concerned this project is too risky and too expensive
"The UK government needs to join the 21st century and start backing the renewable technologies that are proven to work, are cheaper than nuclear power, create jobs in the UK and contribute to the fight against climate change."
EDF plan to take the decision at its board meeting scheduled to be held before the firm releases 2015 earnings on 16 February.
Scheduled to be commissioned in 2025, the Hinkley Point C project is expected to meet the 7% of the UK’s electricity needs.
Image: illustration of Hinkley Point C plant. Photo: courtesy of EDF Energy.
