According to the paper it has seen a legal claim filed by the company’s central works council in France this week, which alleged that EDF had “refused” to give them access to key documents meaning they “cannot form a clear view on the issue”.
In April the council threatened to take legal action against EDF’s board of directors if the company didn’t consult with its employees over the project.
Shortly afterwards EDF decided to delay the final investment decision to allow a consultation to take place. The process began on 9 May and was meant to last 60 days, concluding on 4 July.
The secretary of the central works council Jean-Luc Magnaval is quoted as saying: “We do not have all the documents necessary to come to an opinion.
“Even if the judges force EDF to give us all the documents tomorrow, it will still be tight to come up with an informed opinion by July 4, so we are also asking for more time.”
Magnaval said in April that the unions represented on EDF’s board are unlikely to give their blessings to the project.
In a statement EDF said: “EDF has supplied fully comprehensive information on the project to enable employee representatives to participate in meaningful discussions with management and to reach a recommendation for a future meeting of the which will take place on July 4.
“Several meetings have taken place with union representatives, giving rise to numerous discussions which show EDF’s commitment to quality social dialogue. EDF is confident in the quality of the information it has provided to the in support of the Hinkley Point C project.”
The central works council is an official body within EDF, with its secretary attending board meetings in an advisory capacity. The company is not legally obliged to abide by the council’s decision.
A spokesman for EDF declined to comment on what the company’s legal obligations were regarding the committee, and whether it was required to allow the consultation to conclude before making a final investment decision.
Earlier this week an organisation representing senior executives at EDF called for the final investment decision to be delayed, primarily because of concerns over nuclear reactor supplier Areva NP.