The Chinese state-owned company planning a nuclear power station in Essex refused to share the security arrangements for a Chinese nuclear plant with the British authorities, it has been revealed.

Inspectors from the UK nuclear regulator visited the China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) in Shenzhen earlier this year, as part of the four-year approval process for the reactor the company wants to build at Bradwell.

A green light from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) would be a huge boost for China’s aspirations for exporting nuclear technology and Bradwell would be the first Chinese reactor to be built in a developed country.

Overall the ONR welcomed the “high level of expertise and commitment” shown by the Chinese, according to a report of the visit on 13-16 March, released to the Guardian under freedom of information rules.

However, CGN said it could not share material about security measures to protect its nuclear plant in Fangchenggang, China, which Bradwell could be modelled on.

“With regard to the sharing of information, such as the security plans for FCG [Fangchenggang] Unit 3, CGN stated that these were protected documents under Chinese regulations,” the UK authorities wrote, in a glimpse of UK nuclear regulation rubbing up against Chinese state secrecy.

But the ONR insisted that it was commonplace for foreign nuclear companies not to share sensitive documents around national security during the UK nuclear approval process, known as the Generic Design Assessment (GDA). It added that it was the arrangements for Bradwell that were relevant, not Fangchenggang.

A spokeswoman said: “It is routine for site security plans to be protected, and is not unexpected. It will in no way restrict our assessment of the UK HPR1000[the Chinese reactor design].”

During the visit, the regulator told the Chinese that the UK’s formal assessment of the reactor would be a “long journey” and would require China to be forthcoming with a “sufficient description of the design” so nuclear safety claims could be checked.



The UK said it could only maintain its staffing levels for the approval process if the Chinese did not delay providing the necessary information.

There is no suggestion the UK nuclear regulator would approve the Chinese reactor without receiving the documentation it required.

In a statement, the ONR said: “The purpose of the GDA process is to ensure that the design meets the robust safety and security standards required in the UK, and our regulatory focus is on the arrangements and design of the UK HPR1000, planned for Bradwell.”

Antony Froggatt, a nuclear expert at the Chatham House thinktank, said: “The ONR clearly highlight to the Chinese partners that there are resource adequacy implications and risks, and I would be more blunt and say their ability to adequately do their job, if not being provided with sufficient material.”

GCN said the company was committed to working with the ONR in a transparent way, including sharing all information needed.

“This is no difference to the approach taken for any other would-be operator, whether it be American, Japanese, Chinese or British. As you would expect, all nuclear companies around the world protect sensitive information concerning the security of their own national nuclear sites, and regulators understand and support such essential precautions,” said Robert Davies, CGN UK’s chief operating officer.

CGN put up a third of £18bn cost towards EDF’s project to build French-designed reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, in return for developing its own plant at Bradwell in Essex. The Bradwell B project is two thirds owned by CGN and one third EDF.

The government paused approval for Hinkley for several months last year, because of concerns over China’s stake. CGN is becoming an increasing central player in Britain’s atomic plans, having recently confirmed it is considering buying Toshiba’s troubled NuGen project to build a nuclear power station in Cumbria.