THE team behind Bradwell B have said China’s nuclear group remains committed to the project, after the Prime Minister was quizzed on the proposed plant’s future.
Matthew Pennycook, Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, pressed Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the proposed nuclear power station at Bradwell-on-Sea in the House of Commons.
He said: “The Government’s integrated review concluded the Chinese state poses a systemic challenge to our national security and the Prime Minister has made clear that when it comes to China we must remain vigilant about our critical national infrastructure.”
Mr Johnson confirmed the Government doesn’t want to see “undue influence by potentially adversarial countries in our critical national infrastructure” and insisted “there will be more information” coming on Bradwell.
But he added: “What I don’t want to do is pitchfork away wantonly all Chinese investment in this country or minimise the importance in this country of having a trading relationship with China.”
In response to Mr Johnson’s comments, the team behind Bradwell B says the Chinese state-owned energy company remains committed to the project.
A spokesman for Bradwell B said: “There is no change to CGN’s commitment to Bradwell B and to Essex.
“We are continuing to work to move the project forward through our development phase, which remains funded jointly by CGN and EDF.”
The Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) welcomed the doubt cast over CGN’s involvement.
Spokesman Varrie Blowers said it is not the developer which is the problem but the site itself.
She said: “It is only when Bradwell is removed from the Government’s list of sites ‘potentially suitable’ for new nuclear development that we will finally know that this nuclear saga is over.
“While we would be happy to see CGN go home, BANNG will continue its campaign against any new nuclear development at the totally unsuitable Bradwell site.”
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