17 Feb (NucNet): EDF today signed agreements in Paris that pave the way for “massive investment” to begin towards the construction to begin of the first new nuclear reactors in Britain since 1988.
EDF said the agreements, together with others concluded by third parties in relation to safety, engineering and R&D, will support its plans to develop its first new European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) at Hinkley Point in Somerset, southwest England, with its partner Centrica.
The project, the final investment decision for which is expected to be made at the end of this year, represents “a massive investment in UK infrastructure and unprecedented opportunities for the supply chain in France and the UK”, a statement said.
The agreements, signed today at a Franco-British summit, include:
• A £100 million–plus contract with Kier BAM for site preparation works at Hinkley Point C;
• A memorandum of understanding with Areva relating to the delivery of the nuclear steam supply system and central instrumentation and control systems for the Hinkley Point C project;
• A £15 million investment to establish a world class national training centre in partnership with Bridgwater College in Somerset.
The agreement with Kier BAM is the first major construction contract for preliminary works at Hinkley Point C, the site of EDF Energy’s first two planned nuclear power plants. The initial activities in relation to these works are expected to begin this spring, EDF said.
At the same summit, Areva signed an agreement with Rolls Royce to manufacture complex components and provide engineering and technical services for the first of the reactors at Hinkley Point C.
Rolls Royce said in a statement that once contracted, the work could be worth a total of £400 million in revenue to Rolls-Royce for the four EPRs planned by EDF Energy in the UK.
Areva said Rolls-Royce will supply equipment and technical and engineering services “with an objective of £100 million in value” for the first of the units. The agreement provides for “similar values of work” to be made available for subsequent EPRs in the UK, the statement said.
EDF, through its UK subsidiary EDF Energy and with its partner, the British utility Centrica, plans to build two EPRs at Hinkley Point and two at the Sizewell site in Suffolk.
Areva said that apart from being chosen to build the nuclear steam generating systems for the EDF units it is also competing for a further two reactors for Horizon Nuclear Power. The group is also in preliminary discussions with NuGen, a joint venture between GDF Suez and Iberdrola, for the construction of two EPRs.
