22 Aug (NucNet): Horizon Nuclear Power today announced it has appointed US-based engineering and construction company Bechtel as project management contractor for its proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear power station on the Isle of Anglesey, north Wales.
Horizon has also signed further contracts with Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe and JGC New Energy UK Limited to continue to provide support during the project’s development stage.
Horizon said the move “further strengthens the delivery structure and builds on previous intensive work, enabling the project to move into the next phase”.
Bechtel, who will have nearly 200 employees working within Horizon, will oversee the project management of the power station, together with Horizon.
Hitachi subsidiary Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe will supply two UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, or UK ABWRs, for the new Wylfa Newydd units, to be built next to the existing Wylfa A nuclear station. UK-based JGC will continue to provide specialist engineering contractor services.
Horizon chief executive Duncan Hawthorne said the UK still needs reliable nuclear power to help transform its energy mix “and we are gearing up to deliver that”.
He said the first Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant will be cheaper than what has gone before and after that, with smart financing, supply chain learnings and no need for first time overheads, “future project costs will fall further still”.
In June 2017, the UK government confirmed it was considering direct investment in the Wylfa Newydd project.
In July, the Planning Inspectorate, which considers major infrastructure project applications, accepted a 41,000-page submission for planning permission for Wylfa Newydd. The examination phase is expected to commence in the autumn.
Horizon was formed in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. It was acquired by Hitachi. in November 2012.
The company is developing plans to build at least 5,800 MW of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa and at Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire, England.
Earlier this year Horizon was granted a key European environmental approval for Wylfa Newydd.
The plans received a positive ‘Opinion’ from the European Commission under Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty. The EC said the station will not have significant health or environmental impact on other member states.
