Areva, Rolls-Royce team up for UK EPRs
11 March 2011
Areva has signed an industrial cooperation agreement with the UK’s Rolls-Royce for the manufacture of components for nuclear energy related projects both in the UK and overseas.
The agreement was signed today in London by Areva CEO Anne Lauvergeon and Rolls-Royce CEO Sir John Rose.
"The scope of the agreement includes the manufacturing of complex components for nuclear power stations and will lead to the development of a joint plan to meet the demand for the first new nuclear reactors to be built in the UK," according to Rolls-Royce.
Following the signing of the agreement, Lauvergeon commented, "We look forward to sharing processes, knowledge and skills to ensure that UK industry can perform a key role in manufacturing the new plants to be built in Britain and abroad." She added, "We want solid relationships with a series of international companies that can work with us globally. We are looking for strong ties and this new agreement is a major step in the direction."
Rolls-Royce's Rose said, "With 50 years' nuclear experience and an extensive nuclear supply chain we can bring our significant expertise to bear for the benefit of the nuclear new build programme. This will deliver benefits to the UK and will further enhance the export potential in this fast growing sector."
EDF Energy, which plans to construct the first four EPR units in the UK (at Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley Point in Somerset), has selected Areva to supply the nuclear islands for them. Areva is also competing for four further reactors for Horizon Nuclear Power and is in discussions with NuGen for the construction of two EPRs.
In a statement, Areva said, "Within the scope of these projects, an estimated 70-80% of the total auxiliary equipment manufacturing could be available to UK companies and a similar percentage of civil construction. It is also estimated that the manufacture and construction of each twin set of EPR reactors in the country will support over 20,000 jobs at its peak."
Areva said that, in order to maximize the contribution of UK companies, it has reached an agreement with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre "to act as its manufacturing sourcing and competence hub to identify and assist other British manufacturing companies that want to enter the civil nuclear market for the first time."
In December 2008, Rolls-Royce signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work with Areva on supply chain development, manufacturing and engineering services. The agreement followed an earlier MoU between Rolls-Royce, along with BAE Systems, Doosan Babcock and Westinghouse to collaborate on building AP1000 nuclear plants in the UK. Earlier in the year, Rolls-Royce set up a new dedicated business group to focus on civil nuclear power work around the world.
In September 2009, Rolls-Royce and EDF Energy signed an agreement under which Rolls-Royce would provide pre- and post-construction support for new nuclear power reactors in the UK.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News