Three new companies have been formed to help deliver Chinese nuclear power projects in the UK.
Founded by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), the new companies will be a key part of the approval and implementation process of the new nuclear technology which will power a number of British stations.
The news is being seen as a display of confidence by CGN that the projects remain feasible, despite the UK's imminent exit from the European Union.
As we reported in May, there had been fears that the Brexit process, which also includes the UK leaving the European nuclear regulatory body Euratom, would lead to long delays in the certification of new technology.
Alongside the three new companies, EDF from France and CGN have together formed General Nuclear Services (GNS). GNS will work on a number of new nuclear power projects in the UK, including at Hinkley Point C and Bradwell in Essex.
These projects represent an investment worth billions of pounds by GNS, and so any delay caused by Brexit would not have been welcome.
The technology behind the new power stations is, however, progressing well. The Chinese-designed HPR1000 nuclear reactor, which will power them, is starting the process of gaining UK certification.
That’s referred to as ‘General Design Assessment’ and is expected to take around four years to complete.
