Amec awarded contract for new UK plants

22 April 2010

Engineering and project management company Amec has been awarded a contract by EDF Group to help in the construction of proposed new reactors at the Hinkley Point and Sizewell nuclear power plant sites in the UK.

 

A model of how Hinkley C could look (Image: YRM)

Under the 11-year contract, Amec will support EDF's architect engineering operation for the proposed delivery of two Areva EPR reactors at each of the two sites. The contract has an option to be extended for a further four years.

 

Amec will work with EDF in France and the UK in the key areas of project management, engineering and construction management. Amec will also be responsible for assisting the EDF Group project management teams with engineering and site management activities, together with providing specific engineering studies for the non-nuclear sections of plant in the power stations.

 

EDF Energy is expected to submit a planning application for the two-unit Hinkley Point C plant in early August, which could be approved by mid-2011. EDF plans to begin preparing the site before the end of 2010, pending separate local permission. Subject to a favourable outcome from the Health and Safety Executive's assessment of the Areva EPR design in June 2011, construction of the plant could start in early 2012. The plan is for the first reactor to operate before the end of 2017, with the second following about 18 months later. The two EPRs at Hinkley Point C will have a total capacity of 3300 MWe.

 

EDF is then expected to submit a planning application in June 2011 to construct two more EPRs at Sizewell. The first of the two Sizewell C units is expected to begin operating in 2019, with the second to be completed around 2025.

 

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, EDF Energy's managing director of nuclear new build, said: "We are delighted that Amec will be part of the team we are bringing together to support our nuclear new build project in the UK. We want to work with many leading British companies in relationships that will last many years to deliver our plans for low carbon new nuclear."

 

He added, "The huge investment we are making to deliver new nuclear is good news for the UK supply chain and workers because it will create significant employment and business opportunities over the coming years."

 

Mike Saunders, president of Amec's European power and process operations, commented: "The appointment demonstrates EdF's confidence in the UK capability to help deliver this ambitious programme." He added, "We have been working closely with EdF on this for more than three years. The signing of this contract is recognition of the commitment of both companies to bring together our respective skills to deliver a new fleet of nuclear power stations and help secure the UK's energy future."

 

London-based YRM has been awarded contracts by EDF Energy to act as overall architect for the planned new Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C plants. The initial contracts are to prepare the masterplan and design to provide the architectural vision for the nuclear power plants and their associated buildings, together with the landscape design.

 

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

 

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