UK seeks to block China from nuclear power role
China's role in building nuclear power stations in the UK is under threat amid growing concern about the emerging superpower's involvement in critical national infrastructure.
The Government is exploring ways to stop state-owned China General Nuclear (CGN) taking part in the £20bn Sizewell C power plant that CGN's partner EDF wants to build in Suffolk, along with all future UK power projects, the Financial Times reported.
The move would also affect CGN's plans to eventually build its own new plant, Bradwell B in Essex, and raises questions over the replacement of the UK's ageing nuclear fleet.
It comes after Boris Johnson kicked China's telecoms maker Huawei out of Britain's 5G network amid growing concern about human rights abuses including the state's crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong and treatment of the Uyghur minority.
“There isn’t a chance in hell that CGN builds Bradwell,” a source told the FT, adding: “Given the approach we’ve seen to Huawei, they [Downing Street] aren’t going to be letting a Chinese company build a new nuclear power station.”
CGN is currently developing the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset as a junior partner to EDF, under a nuclear collaboration deal between China and the UK dating back to 2015 in what was seen as a new "golden era" between the two countries.
The company has a one-third stake in Hinkley Point C, a 20pc development phase stake in Sizewell C, and its own reactor design, which it could use at Bradwell, is being assessed by regulators.
EDF is in negotiations with the Government over Sizewell C and will also need external financing. It may find it easier to court some institutional investors without China's involvement.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: "Nuclear power has an important role to play in the UK's low-carbon energy future, as we work towards our world-leading target to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050.
"All nuclear projects in the UK are conducted under robust and independent regulation to meet the UK's rigorous legal, regulatory and national security requirements, ensuring our interests are protected.”
CGN declined to comment. EDF could not be reached for comment.
