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| Rolls-Royce vies for UK nuclear role | Rolls-Royce vies for UK nuclear role |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rolls-Royce has confirmed it is in talks with Chinese state-run firm China General Nuclear (CGN) over providing essential systems for a new power station in the UK. | Rolls-Royce has confirmed it is in talks with Chinese state-run firm China General Nuclear (CGN) over providing essential systems for a new power station in the UK. |
| The UK engineering company makes instrumentation and control systems for nuclear reactors. | The UK engineering company makes instrumentation and control systems for nuclear reactors. |
| The plant will be based at Bradwell, on the River Blackwater in Essex. | The plant will be based at Bradwell, on the River Blackwater in Essex. |
| The project is one of three new nuclear schemes in this country in which CGN is centrally involved. | The project is one of three new nuclear schemes in this country in which CGN is centrally involved. |
| Rolls-Royce already has an agreement with CGN's subsidiary, CTEC, to develop and sell reactor control systems for selected projects in China and on international markets. | Rolls-Royce already has an agreement with CGN's subsidiary, CTEC, to develop and sell reactor control systems for selected projects in China and on international markets. |
| Nuclear strategy | Nuclear strategy |
| The planned new "Bradwell B" power station is a major component of the government's nuclear strategy. The country's existing reactors are ageing and all of them are due to shut down by 2035. | The planned new "Bradwell B" power station is a major component of the government's nuclear strategy. The country's existing reactors are ageing and all of them are due to shut down by 2035. |
| The Essex site is already home to an obsolete nuclear power station, which closed in 2002. | The Essex site is already home to an obsolete nuclear power station, which closed in 2002. |
| Its replacement was one of six new nuclear plants which were originally lined up - under plans set out by the coalition government in 2013 - to help meet energy needs in decades to come. | Its replacement was one of six new nuclear plants which were originally lined up - under plans set out by the coalition government in 2013 - to help meet energy needs in decades to come. |
| However, three of those projects have since fallen by the wayside. | However, three of those projects have since fallen by the wayside. |
| One, at Moorside in Cumbria, was in effect cancelled in November after its backer, the Japanese firm Toshiba, decided to wind up its nuclear business in the UK. | One, at Moorside in Cumbria, was in effect cancelled in November after its backer, the Japanese firm Toshiba, decided to wind up its nuclear business in the UK. |
| Two more, at Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and at Oldbury in south Gloucestershire, were put on hold last week. Their main backer was another Japanese firm, Hitachi. | Two more, at Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and at Oldbury in south Gloucestershire, were put on hold last week. Their main backer was another Japanese firm, Hitachi. |
| It said it had failed to reach an agreement with the government on how the projects would be funded. | It said it had failed to reach an agreement with the government on how the projects would be funded. |
| CGN is now playing a central role in all three remaining projects. | CGN is now playing a central role in all three remaining projects. |
| It is providing one third of the funding for the new Hinkley Point C, which is currently being built by the French firm EDF. | It is providing one third of the funding for the new Hinkley Point C, which is currently being built by the French firm EDF. |
| At Bradwell, it will be the lead contractor, with EDF becoming the junior partner. It plans to use its own HPR1000 reactor design. | At Bradwell, it will be the lead contractor, with EDF becoming the junior partner. It plans to use its own HPR1000 reactor design. |
| The two are also expected to collaborate on another project, at Sizewell, in Suffolk. | The two are also expected to collaborate on another project, at Sizewell, in Suffolk. |
| Rolls-Royce benefits | Rolls-Royce benefits |
| For Rolls-Royce, the talks represent an opportunity to expand its relationship with CGN and CTEC. | For Rolls-Royce, the talks represent an opportunity to expand its relationship with CGN and CTEC. |
| Its instrumentation and controls business, based in the French city of Grenoble, supplies systems used in reactors around the world, including a large number in China. | Its instrumentation and controls business, based in the French city of Grenoble, supplies systems used in reactors around the world, including a large number in China. |
| It already acts as a supplier to CGN, but under an agreement reached last year, it plans to work more closely with the Chinese giant in developing the technology itself. | It already acts as a supplier to CGN, but under an agreement reached last year, it plans to work more closely with the Chinese giant in developing the technology itself. |
| But the extent of CGN's involvement in the British nuclear sector has attracted criticism from politicians and security analysts, who are worried about its links with the Chinese government. | But the extent of CGN's involvement in the British nuclear sector has attracted criticism from politicians and security analysts, who are worried about its links with the Chinese government. |
| There are concerns that essential infrastructure could be left open to cyber-attacks or that technology could be stolen. | There are concerns that essential infrastructure could be left open to cyber-attacks or that technology could be stolen. |
| Last year, a leading US security official reportedly warned the government against developing a close relationship with Chinese contractors, on the grounds that civil nuclear technology was being adapted for military use. | Last year, a leading US security official reportedly warned the government against developing a close relationship with Chinese contractors, on the grounds that civil nuclear technology was being adapted for military use. |
| Some experts believe the involvement of Rolls Royce will help to allay concerns about the security of the Bradwellproject. | |
| "Having more trusted UK content, making sure that the plant has secure operating systems, that's absolutely vital," said David Livingstone, an associate fellow in international security at Chatham House. | |
| "It would be unacceptable to have a third party nation in control of critical systems. It needs to be secure," he said. |