December 2007:

EDF Energy, London's electricity company, has told the Government it is prepared to shoulder the cost of building a £10bn fleet of four nuclear power stations without the support of a penny of taxpayers' money.

[…]

In a private speech to City bankers this week, EDF's UK chief executive Vincent de Rivaz said using state-of-the-art European reactor technology as its business model for the project would make money for investors.

'There is no subsidy in the business case,' said de Rivaz. 'There is no line in the budget which is called 'taxpayers' money'. The nuclear option is based on sound economics.'

Wow! The nuclear option is based on sound economics, Mr de Rivaz? There is no subsidy in the business case? EDF can shoulder the cost of building four nuclear power stations without the support of a penny of taxpayers' money? This is fantastic news. We take back all of what we said about how the economics of nuclear power are a ridiculous joke. Sorry, what’s that? Oh, dear…

May 2009:

New nuclear power stations will not be built in Britain unless the government provides financial support for the industry, the head of the country’s biggest nuclear generator has warned.

Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of the UK subsidiary of EDF, told the Financial Times that a “level playing field” had to be created that would allow the nuclear industry to compete with other low-emission electricity sources such as wind power.

Wow! You mean the nuclear option isn’t based on sound economics, Mr de Rivaz? There is a subsidy in the business case? EDF can’t shoulder the cost of building four nuclear power stations without the support of a penny of taxpayers' money? This is fantastic news. We were right all along - the economics of nuclear power are a ridiculous joke.