U.K. approves nuclear plant China will help build
LONDON — The British government approved the country’s first nuclear power plant in a generation Thursday after promising to put safeguards in place because of concerns about China's role in building such a critical infrastructure.
Prime Minister Theresa May had delayed approval of the $23 billion Hinkley Point C plant in southwestern England, which is being funded by China and the French energy firm EDF, saying she wanted to review it.
May had delayed approval because of concerns about China's involvement in the project and whether it was cost effective.
The delay prompted Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, to warn that the two nations were at a "crucial historical juncture." He said he hoped the Britain would keep its door open to China.
Under the deal, China would have the chance to build the nuclear reactor, which raised the prospect that China could shut down the plant in the event of a diplomatic dispute with Britain.
In announcing its approval of the project in a statement, the U.K. government said that it would “ensure that significant stakes (in nuclear plant projects) cannot be sold without the Government’s knowledge or consent.”
“There will be reforms to the government's approach to the ownership and control of critical infrastructure to ensure that the full implications of foreign ownership are scrutinized for the purposes of national security," it said.