CHINA's state-owned nuclear energy company could be blocked from it's joint project to build new nuclear power station in Bradwell-on-Sea.

A Whitehall source confirmed a report by the Financial Times that the Government is seeking to remove China General Nuclear (CGN) from future projects in the UK.

This move would exclude CGN from its Bradwell B project.

The Bradwell B nuclear power station is a joint project by CGN and EDF to replace the former Bradwell A nuclear power station was decommissioned in 2002.

Its backers claim it will create 900 permanent jobs as well as 9,000 jobs during construction.

Whilst the team made significant progress with the project last year with the first stage of public consultation, environmental impact assessment scoping and securing an electricity generation licence, there is no start date as a range of other tests have to be completed. 

The Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group and the Bradwell Action Network have both opposed the Bradwell B project as they claim Blackwater environments and communities would be devastated and radioactive materials being stored on-site would leave a burden for future generations.

China’s involvement in nuclear power in the UK dates back to an agreement endorsed by then prime minister David Cameron and Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2015.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “Nuclear power has an important role to play in the UK’s low-carbon energy future, as we work towards our world-leading target to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050.

“All nuclear projects in the UK are conducted under robust and independent regulation to meet the UK’s rigorous legal, regulatory and national security requirements, ensuring our interests are protected.”