The United Kingdom’s largest nuclear power project, Hinkley Point C, has been hit by an unusual setback—a rat infestation. Trade unions Unite and GMB raised the alarm in early April, warning that the Somerset-based construction site, led by French energy giant EDF, was overrun with rodents.
Union representatives described the problem as widespread, with rats reportedly visible across the site, especially near canteens. Workers expressed concerns about hygiene and safety, linking the growing rat presence to poor waste management and unclean facilities. “They’re everywhere,” one worker said. “The more people on site, the more rubbish—and the worse it gets.”
Hinkley Point C is expected to provide power for around six million homes and generate 7% of the UK’s electricity once operational. The project is also projected to create up to 15,000 jobs. However, it has already faced repeated delays and rising costs. Currently scheduled to be completed in the early 2030s, many observers doubt it will meet that timeline.
Worker dissatisfaction has also been growing. Last year, hundreds of staff staged a strike over poor site access and working conditions, while others have voiced concerns about pay—issues that some believe stem from EDF’s financial pressures.
A spokesperson for Hinkley Point C confirmed the rodent problem but called it common for large construction projects. “A specialist company has carried out a survey, and measures are in place to address the issue,” the spokesperson said. “We are working with union partners to maintain a safe environment for all workers.”
Although rodent infestations in nuclear facilities are rare, they are not unheard of. In 2013, a power outage at Japan’s Fukushima plant—then in decommissioning—was reportedly caused by a rat that triggered a short circuit. The incident shut down cooling systems in multiple reactor units for several hours.
Despite such incidents, experts insist that modern nuclear facilities are among the safest in the world. The International Atomic Energy Agency describes nuclear plants as highly secure and regulated. The World Nuclear Association notes that in over 60 years of civil nuclear power, only three major accidents—Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima—have occurred among 18,500 reactor-years of operation.
As the UK and other nations shift toward greener energy, nuclear power is regaining favor. Experts continue to emphasize its safety record, reliability, and potential as a key part of a clean energy future—rat issues notwithstanding.
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