CGN, as the company is known, is in talks to buy Rolls Royce’s control systems for use in its HPR1000 reactors. Regarded as the central nervous system of a nuclear power plant, control systems not only drive the operation of the reactor, but allows it to be safely shut down should problems occur. “That represents a big commitment to the UK local supply chain” said Andy Storer, CEO of the UK’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. “It should allay any fears the public may have about the Chinese developing a nuclear reactor in the UK.” Former British environment minister Tim Yeo agrees. “It goes a long way to reassure the UK public that Chinese nuclear technology will not cause any security concern,” said Yeo, who served as environment minister in John Major’s government in the early 1990s, and is now chairman of London-based lobbying group New Nuclear Watch Europe. “Although I’ve always felt that such concerns are completely unfounded, gaining trust from the general public is also important.” A spokesman for Rolls Royce confirmed the talks, stressing that the two companies already have a “long-lasting partnership”. Rolls Royce has supplied control systems to 41 nuclear reactors in China, of which 24 are built by CGN. CGN did not respond to China Daily’s request for comment before publication.
China Daily 22nd Jan 2019 read more »
