The 0.7 per cent stake in the Selby power station has been amassed quietly as it falls below the three per cent disclosure threshold, which public companies must adhere to.

A spokesman for the company confirmed the central bank’s stake and said: “We welcome all long-term shareholders.” Other major Drax shareholders include Investco, Barclays and Morgan Stanley.

Drax, which has the capacity to supply up to seven per cent of the UK’s electricity needs, reported pre-tax profits of £206 million for the first six months of the year, compared with £288 million last year.

The dip in earnings comes on the back of higher carbon emissions costs.

The People’s Bank of China has also bought stakes in investment bank Morgan Stanley and private equity group Blackstone.