LONDON, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Thursday gave the green light to the multi-billion U.S. dollar Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, but attached new measures to ensure the country's security.
The latest move came nearly two months after the new government surprisingly halted the project and called for a review of the nuclear program.
The Hinkley Point C plant will be co-built by China General Nuclear Power Corp., which has a one-third stake, and French state-owned company EDF.
An official statement said the British government had decided to approve the country's first nuclear power plant in two decades following a new agreement with EDF, but added that new measures would be taken to enhance security.
"Following a comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, and a revised agreement with EDF, the government has decided to proceed with the first new nuclear power station for a generation," it said, noting that a new legal framework will be imposed for future foreign investment in Britain's critical infrastructure, including nuclear energy.
The statement stressed that the British government will be able to prevent the sale of EDF's controlling stake prior to the completion of construction.
Existing legal powers, and a new legal framework, will mean that the British government is able to intervene in the sale of EDF's stake once Hinkley is operational, it said.
But the statement did not mention the role of Chinese investment in the power plant, a 18-billion-British-pound (23.6-billion-dollar) project that will be built and mainly funded by EDF.
The plant is expected to benefit the British economy by creating thousands of jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships, and billions of pounds will be invested into the economy of southwestern England.
According to the statement, the British government will take a special share in all future nuclear projects after Hinkley, which will ensure that significant stakes cannot be sold without the government's knowledge or consent.
"Britain needs to upgrade its supplies of energy, and we have always been clear that nuclear is an important part of ensuring our future low-carbon energy security," said Greg Clark, secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy.
Once completed, the Hinkley Point C power plant will provide 7 percent of Britain's electricity needs for 60 years.
