Controversial state - owned Chinese company , China National Nuclear Corporation ( CNNC ) , is on the UK 's list of preferred bidders for millions of pounds of UK public money to develop mini nuclear power plants . There are concerns that giving the CNNC - which has military ties - such close access to the UK 's energy infrastructure could give it the potential ability to build weaknesses into UK computer systems , warns Prime Minster Theresa May 's co - chief of staff , David Timothy . When asked about the list published on Friday, a spokeswoman for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “In March 2016, the government launched the first phase of a competition to identify the best value SMR for the UK. The involvement of a different Chinese company in the Hinkley Point C project was believed to have influenced the UK government 's decision to delay the project at the last minute .
Controversial state - owned Chinese company , China National Nuclear Corporation ( CNNC ) , is on the UK 's list of preferred bidders for millions of pounds of UK public money to develop mini nuclear power plants . There are concerns that giving the CNNC - which has military ties - such close access to the UK 's energy infrastructure could give it the potential ability to build weaknesses into UK computer systems , warns Prime Minster Theresa May 's co - chief of staff , David Timothy . The involvement of a different Chinese company in the Hinkley Point C project was believed to have influenced the UK government 's decision to delay the project at the last minute .