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| Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant Will Go Ahead, Britain Says | Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant Will Go Ahead, Britain Says |
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| LONDON — The British government announced on Thursday that it would push ahead with a contentious deal to build a nuclear power station financed in part with French and Chinese investment, after angering its international partners by postponing the plan in July. | LONDON — The British government announced on Thursday that it would push ahead with a contentious deal to build a nuclear power station financed in part with French and Chinese investment, after angering its international partners by postponing the plan in July. |
| The move came after a comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, the government said in a statement, and after a revised agreement with EDF, the largely state-owned French company that is investing in the plant, that gives the British government a much greater say if EDF wishes to sell its stake. | The move came after a comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, the government said in a statement, and after a revised agreement with EDF, the largely state-owned French company that is investing in the plant, that gives the British government a much greater say if EDF wishes to sell its stake. |
| The statement also said that the government would take a “special share” in any nuclear projects built after Hinkley Point, to ensure that “significant stakes cannot be sold without the government’s knowledge or consent.” | |
| In one of her first significant moves since taking office, Prime Minister Theresa May decided to review the construction of the $24 billion nuclear power plant in Somerset, on security and economic grounds. | In one of her first significant moves since taking office, Prime Minister Theresa May decided to review the construction of the $24 billion nuclear power plant in Somerset, on security and economic grounds. |
| The costs of canceling the project at such a late stage would have been considerable: EDF would have claimed compensation after spending large amounts on development and construction; trade with China would have almost certainly suffered; and Hinkley is crucial for Britain to avoid an energy shortage in the future. | The costs of canceling the project at such a late stage would have been considerable: EDF would have claimed compensation after spending large amounts on development and construction; trade with China would have almost certainly suffered; and Hinkley is crucial for Britain to avoid an energy shortage in the future. |
| “Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy, and we have always been clear that nuclear is an important part of ensuring our future low-carbon energy security,” Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business and energy, said in the statement, in which he also praised enhanced security provisions. | “Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy, and we have always been clear that nuclear is an important part of ensuring our future low-carbon energy security,” Greg Clark, the secretary of state for business and energy, said in the statement, in which he also praised enhanced security provisions. |
| The delay in approving the new nuclear plant, which will be the first in a generation, caused tension with the French government because EDF had approved funding for the project despite serious concerns about the company’s ability to absorb the huge costs. | The delay in approving the new nuclear plant, which will be the first in a generation, caused tension with the French government because EDF had approved funding for the project despite serious concerns about the company’s ability to absorb the huge costs. |
| Michel Sapin, the French finance and economy minister, said in a statement that the decision “is a major step in French-British industrial and energy cooperation.” | |
| The Chinese leadership was also angered by the move, which was seen as a calculated shift away from the policy toward Beijing cultivated by Mrs. May’s predecessor, David Cameron, who courted China despite geopolitical, security and human rights concerns. | The Chinese leadership was also angered by the move, which was seen as a calculated shift away from the policy toward Beijing cultivated by Mrs. May’s predecessor, David Cameron, who courted China despite geopolitical, security and human rights concerns. |
| Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, said in a commentary published in response to the announcement of the review that the delay added “uncertainties to the ‘Golden Era’ of China-U.K. ties.” | Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, said in a commentary published in response to the announcement of the review that the delay added “uncertainties to the ‘Golden Era’ of China-U.K. ties.” |
| “China can wait for a rational British government to make responsible decisions,” the commentary said, “but cannot tolerate any unwanted accusation against its sincere and benign willingness for win-win cooperation.” | “China can wait for a rational British government to make responsible decisions,” the commentary said, “but cannot tolerate any unwanted accusation against its sincere and benign willingness for win-win cooperation.” |
| China is providing financing for about one-third of the Hinkley Point project, but the original deal would have allowed the country to build and operate a nuclear power plant of its own design at another site in Britain, at Bradwell-on-Sea, in Essex. | |
| Two plants would give China an important stake, and potentially a measure of control, over a significant part of Britain’s energy supply. | |
| Mrs. May met President Xi Jinping of China at the meeting of Group of 20 leaders this month, and she may have received direct reassurances from him, perhaps over security concerns. | Mrs. May met President Xi Jinping of China at the meeting of Group of 20 leaders this month, and she may have received direct reassurances from him, perhaps over security concerns. |
| Environmentalists have criticized the project to build the Hinkley plant, which is intended to produce 3,200 megawatts — enough to power six million homes, or about 7 percent of Britain’s energy needs — with two new French reactors at a cost of at least 18 billion pounds, or about $24 billion. | Environmentalists have criticized the project to build the Hinkley plant, which is intended to produce 3,200 megawatts — enough to power six million homes, or about 7 percent of Britain’s energy needs — with two new French reactors at a cost of at least 18 billion pounds, or about $24 billion. |
| Opponents of the power plant argued that it represented poor value for money and that British taxpayers would end up paying higher prices for energy. | Opponents of the power plant argued that it represented poor value for money and that British taxpayers would end up paying higher prices for energy. |
| British trade unions had also criticized the decision to delay the project, mindful of the jobs that would have been at risk. | British trade unions had also criticized the decision to delay the project, mindful of the jobs that would have been at risk. |