Dutch energy company Delta is teaming up with French state-owned giant EDF to look into building a second nuclear power plant in the Netherlands.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to start the long-term process which may eventually lead to the building of a second plant in Zeeland. The Borssele plant in the southern Dutch province is the Netherlands only nuclear power plant and 50% owned by Delta..
The new Dutch government backs nuclear power but any new development is likely to take several years. Delta announced its wish to build a second plant in 2009.
Second bid
This September it emerged that the former shareholders of energy company Essent – a number of local and provincial councils – have also begun procedures to build a new plant. The councils are shareholders in Energy Resource Holding, which owns the other half of Borssele.
Sources told the Financieele Dagblad that Essent’s new owner RWE is behind the ERH drive to build the new nuclear power station. RWE was not allowed to take over Essent’s half of Borssele but is fighting that decision in the courts.