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| Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant Will Go Ahead, Britain Says | Hinkley Point Nuclear Plant Will Go Ahead, Britain Says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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, but only after making changes intended to address security concerns. | 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, but only after making changes intended to address security concerns. |
| Britain, which angered its international partners by postponing a final decision on the $24 billion Hinkley Point C project in July, said in a statement that the government would take a “special share” in any nuclear projects built in the future. | Britain, which angered its international partners by postponing a final decision on the $24 billion Hinkley Point C project in July, said in a statement that the government would take a “special share” in any nuclear projects built in the future. |
| Although the statement made no reference to China, it almost certainly had the Beijing leadership in mind when it noted that the changes would ensure that “significant stakes cannot be sold without the government’s knowledge or consent.” | Although the statement made no reference to China, it almost certainly had the Beijing leadership in mind when it noted that the changes would ensure that “significant stakes cannot be sold without the government’s knowledge or consent.” |
| The government will also add a review of any deal for national security implications, and the revised terms mean that Britain will have a much greater say if EDF, the largely state-owned French company that is the main investor in the plant, wishes to sell its stake in the plant to a foreign buyer. | The government will also add a review of any deal for national security implications, and the revised terms mean that Britain will have a much greater say if EDF, the largely state-owned French company that is the main investor in the plant, wishes to sell its stake in the plant to a foreign buyer. |
| The delay, which was ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May shortly after she took office, was seen as a calculated shift away from the ties with Beijing that her predecessor, David Cameron, had cultivated. He often courted China despite geopolitical, security and human rights concerns. | The delay, which was ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May shortly after she took office, was seen as a calculated shift away from the ties with Beijing that her predecessor, David Cameron, had cultivated. He often courted China despite geopolitical, security and human rights concerns. |
| Mrs. May decided to review the construction of the nuclear power plant in Somerset, even though 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. | “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. |
| The delay in approving the new nuclear plant, which will be the first in a generation, also 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, also 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.” | 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.” |
| After the delay was announced, 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |