Qatar and Kuwait could buy into Hinkley Point power station

The sovereign wealth funds of Qatar and Kuwait could take a stake of up to 15 per cent in EDF's Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, according to reports in France.

A deal between the Government and EDF on Monday in effect gave the go-ahead to building the £16bn plant but left open the possibility of additional investors joining the project. Two state-backed Chinese groups have already agreed to take stakes in the project.

However, a source close to negotiations said that any talks were at a very early stage with no announcement likely soon.