UK government recently secured backing for major nuclear project
A consortium led by France-based construction engineering company Egis has secured a contract extension to support EDF Energy in advancing the Sizewell C nuclear power station project in southeast England.
The consortium comprises Egis, US-based engineering firm Amentum, France-based Setec Nucléaire and Belgium-based engineering company Tractebel.
The scope of work under the contract includes detailed civil design for 12 nuclear island buildings, encompassing the reactor, fuel and safeguarding structures, widely regarded as the most technically complex and safety critical components of any nuclear power station.
Tractebel said in a statement that it will be responsible for the reinforced and pre-stressed concrete design of the reactor building and safeguard buildings, including the design of pools, liners, and special embedded parts located within these buildings.
The Sizewell C project involves the planning, design and construction of two Generation III+ EPR plants supplied by France.
The consortium has supported Sizewell C since 2020, delivering studies and geotechnical assessments that underpin the entire development. Recently, the consortium was asked to design a key reactor building foundation known as the common raft, and the pre-stressing gallery, a structural component below the main reactor unit designed to strengthen the containment structure.
The EPR, which is also being used for two new plants at Hinkley Point C in the UK, was developed by a collaboration of Framatome, EDF and Siemens in France. Today, Framatome is the EPR reactor designer and manufacturer, with EDF playing a key role in the design, development, and operator of the reactors.
In July the UK agreed a deal worth more than £38bn (€43bn, $51bn) with private investors to back the Sizewell C nuclear power station project – a major step forward in the delivery of what the government called a new “golden age” of nuclear.
The government said it will retain a majority stake of 44.9% in the project. The remainder will be divided between investors including Canada-based global investment group La Caisse (20%), Centrica, the owner of power company British Gas (15%) and France’s EDF (12.5%).
