The project was controversial, with critics questioning the role of foreign governments building the U.K.’s nuclear infrastructure.
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The Guardian reported that May had concerns about China’s involvement in critical infrastructure and whether the project was cost effective.
The UK government has given the go ahead for the £18bn Hinkley Point power station, financed by the French and the Chinese after imposing “significant new safeguards” to protect national security. The deal is key for China as it could help the country eventually export its nuclear technology to developed country markets.
‘After reviewing the proposal for Hinkley Point C, we introduced a series of measures to increase the security and we decided that we will continue with the project.’ said the UK Energy Minister.
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Morris, said: “This is good news for my constituency as it means we’re now going to have a third nuclear power station built”.
GE is also bidding on nuclear competitions in Finland, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, India and China, Lusch said.
The government said it would take a special share in all future nuclear projects to ensure that significant stakes are sold with its knowledge or consent.
“We’re now able to move forward and deliver much needed nuclear capacity at Hinkley Point, Sizewell and Bradwell with our strategic partners”, said CGN.
EDF’s board had already approved its participation in the project in southwest England in July when May’s government suddenly announced it was pausing it.
May’s decision in July to review the project came little more than a month after Britons voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that forced the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron – whose administration gave the initial go-ahead to the plan.
“When it begins producing electricity in the middle of the next decade it will provide 7 percent of the UK’s electricity needs; giving secure energy to 6 million homes for 60 years”, he said.
“The emphasis must now be on delivering the Government’s vision of a wider nuclear programme in the United Kingdom and we remain focused on continuing to make strong progress with our lead Wylfa Newydd project”.
EDF and CGN are to receive a fixed price of electricity of £92.50 per megawatt hour, rising with inflation, for 35 years.
“Had the programme gone under, all sides were to lose dearly, while China-Britain relations could have been tossed into uncertainty”, it said, while warning that future problems are inevitable as Hinkley Point is built. The government will also be able to intervene in the sale of EDF’s stake once the plant is in operation.
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Unite national officer for energy Kevin Coyne said: “Our members are shovel ready and dead keen to start work on the country’s first nuclear power station for a generation”.
