The decision by the British government has given rise to a renewed since of optimism throughout the nuclear power industry in the post-Fukushima Daiichi era, especially in China.
In the immediate wake of the announcement, China General Nuclear (CGN) said it was "delighted" at the decision that includes a 33.5 percent stake by Chinese companies. In addition, the approved deal, with the contract amended to appease Britain's security concerns, includes options for CGN involvement in two other British nuclear plant projects, a proposed build at Sizwell, including another minority position held by China, and Bradwell B, where the Chinese company takes a majority position in a project that would include Chinese-based reactor technology and include EDF as a minority stakeholder.
Not only did CGN say it was delighted with the government's green light, it said, "We are now able to move forward and deliver much-needed nuclear capacity at Hinkley Point C, Sizewell and Bradwell with our strategic partners EDF, and provide the UK with safe, reliable and sustainable low-carbon energy."
While these projects were already known to the public, CGN also said that it would submit plans for the Bradwell B project "very soon." Approval for China's technology is expected to take four years and CGN is close to ready to take that step forward.
However, at a World Nuclear Association conference in London, vice president and chief nuclear designer at China State Nuclear Power Corporation (SNPTC) Zheng Mingguang said that China was now on a path to build 60 reactors in the next ten years.
The pace included two reactor projects per year developed by SNPTC, CNNC and CGN, according to the estimate.