China General Nuclear says it wants to bring 鈥渆xpertise and experience鈥� to UK

The Chinese nuclear developer part-funding Hinkley Point C has said it wants to be heavily involved in the construction of new nuclear plants in the UK.

Speaking to MPs on the Energy Select Committee, Zhu Minhong, general director of UK nuclear projects at China General Nuclear (CGN), said that in addition to its investment in EDF鈥檚 Somerset plant, his firm wants to bring its 鈥渆xpertise and experience鈥� to Hinkley and further nuclear schemes in the UK.

At the same committee session EDF鈥檚 UK chief executive Vince de Rivaz was girlled by MPs over when the French client will make a final investment decision on Hinkley.

De Rivaz began his appearance by saying 鈥渃learly and categorically鈥� that Hinkley Point C will go ahead, but he refused to commit to a date for when a decision will be made.

Under CGN鈥檚 funding deal with EDF, the Chinese nuclear giant has already agreed to help fund Hinkley and to partner on construction of further plants at Sizewell in Suffolk and Bradwell in Essex. At Bradwell CGN is expected to lead on development and construction itself.

Minhong told MPs the final terms of CGN鈥檚 funding deal with EDF for Hinkley is 鈥減ractically completed鈥� and the firm is 鈥渃onfident鈥� it will go ahead. CGN has a 33% stake in the 拢18bn project. In China

In China CGN is developing five nuclear power plants and has plans to develop four more. It also operates two completed plants.

Minhong added: 鈥淲e hope through our participation in [Hinkley] we can learn how to develop nuclear power sites in the UK.鈥�

When de Rivaz was pressed on when EDF will make a final investment decision, he said: 鈥淭he French [economy minister Emmanuel Macron] said it will be early May, and for me it is a confirmation that a decision will be made very soon. I don鈥檛 want to give a precise date.鈥�

It came after Macron told France鈥檚 economic affairs committee that a decision on Hinkley was due in May.

Macron said: 鈥淲hy the start of May? It must be taken before the general assembly [shareholder meeting] of EDF, and it鈥檚 important that we give our British partners full visibility of this investment, which is absolutely critical for them鈥� also before the deadlines which are important for them.鈥�

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