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- The National Grid in the UK is removing components supplied by Chinese firm Nari Technology due to cybersecurity concerns.
- The decision was made after counsel from the National Cyber Security Centre, a GCHQ affiliate.
- An employee from NR Electric UK, a Nari Technology subsidiary, confirmed the company’s access to sites where components were installed has stopped.
- The National Grid did not comment on the reasons for contract termination, but it is believed to be related to the company’s grid control, balancing, and blackout minimization components.
In light of cybersecurity worries, Britain’s National Grid has begun the process of removing components supplied by a unit of China-backed Nari Technology from its electricity transmission network. The Financial Times reported that the decision was made in April after advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of GCHQ.
The report also says that an employee from the Nari subsidiary, NR Electric UK, disclosed that the company no longer had access to the sites where the components were installed. However, National Grid did not provide reasons for terminating the contracts.
An unnamed source suggests that the decision is linked to the NR Electric UK components that are responsible for grid control, balancing, and minimising blackout risks. Both the National Grid and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been contacted by Energy Live News for comment.
As technologies become more advanced, the importance of secure and reliable power supply systems continues to grow. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact other international contracts for Chinese tech suppliers.
