(Bloomberg) — The British government is considering ways to exclude China’s state-owned China Nuclear Power Corporation from all future projects in this sector in the UK, in another sign of worsening relations between the two countries.
Projects at potential risk include the £20 billion ($27.5 billion) Sizewell C nuclear power plant with partner Électricité de France in Suffolk and the Bradwell-on-Sea project in Essex, according to a person familiar with the matter who did not want to. reveal his identity.
CGN also has a 33% stake in the Hinkley Point C facility, currently under construction in Somerset and one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects. With EDF forecasting the permanent closure of five of the UK’s eight nuclear power plants by 2024, a setback for the new capacity to replace them would put the country at risk of not meeting its goal of zero net emissions.
The move highlights the tougher stance the Boris Johnson administration has taken toward China. Johnson blocked Huawei Technologies’ participation in the UK’s 5G wireless network launch, and earlier this month Britain’s National Security Council launched an investigation into China’s takeover of the country’s largest chip maker by China-controlled Nexperia.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said in a statement: “All nuclear projects in the UK are undertaken under strict and independent regulations to meet the UK’s stringent legal, regulatory and national security requirements, ensuring our interests are protected.” Statement, when asked about the situation. “Nuclear power has an important role to play in the future of low-carbon energy in the UK,” he said.
CGN’s plans were earlier published by the Financial Times on Sunday.
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