Britain is set to make a decision “soon” on whether to approve Chinese turbine maker Mingyang’s proposed £1.5 billion factory at Ardersier in Scotland, Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant said on Thursday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Bryant said the government had taken time over the proposal, submitted by the Guangzhou-based manufacturer last October, as it weighed wider relations with China and national security considerations.
“We don’t want to flip flop on our relationship with China,” Bryant said, adding that ministers needed to be confident the investment would be “safe and secure” after MPs raised concerns about Mingyang’s links to supply deals for UK and European wind farms.
“Any aspect of our critical national infrastructure, we want to make sure that the investment is safe, secure, and is going to do the business for us as well as for China,” he said.
Bryant added that a decision was expected shortly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently on a visit to China, where he met President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
Mingyang said earlier this week it is considering alternative locations in Europe should the UK government reject plans for the Scottish site.
