China General Nuclear Corp, one of two mainland firms expected to invest in the UK’s Hinkley Point power station left out hundreds of critical steel rods during construction of its first reactor near Hong Kong in 1987–though the omission was later addressed, The Guardian reported. Industry observers believe GBP2 billion (US$3.095 billion) in initial financing for the Hinkley project is conditional on allowing Chinese firms to build their own plant in Essex. “China currently does not have enough experience to make sound judgments on whether there could be accidents,” said He Zuoxiu, who worked on China’s nuclear weapons program. He previously criticized the country’s domestic nuclear expansion plans as “insane”.
Categories