Energy firm newcleo says it will suspend UK lead-cooled fast reactor development

LONDON (Reuters) -Energy firm newcleo said on Wednesday it would suspend its programme to develop lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR) in Britain and substantially wind down its UK activities.

LFRs are a type of small modular nuclear reactor technology which are smaller than conventional nuclear reactors.

The firm, established in and headquartered in Britain, said it had planned to develop up to four such reactors in the UK, producing a total of 800 megawatts, enough to power around 1.6 million homes, and representing around 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) of investment.

($1 = 0.7525 pounds)

(Reporting by Nina ChestneyEditing by Mark Potter)