B&W awarded $2 billion naval contract

18 January 2011

Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) has been awarded a contract by the US government worth some $2 billion for the manufacture of nuclear components to support US defence programs, including the manufacture of naval nuclear power systems for submarines and aircraft carriers. The work will be carried out by B&W subsidiary Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group over a ten-year period, starting this month. As well as being involved in the military sector, B&W – which was spun-off from US engineering and construction company McDermott International in July 2010 - works in advanced energy technology innovation and service, primarily in nuclear and fossil power. B&W is actively developing small nuclear reactors for civil use on the basis of its well-established defence business. Its 125 MWe mPower reactor will be transportable by rail to the installation site. TVA is considering building two lead units at Clinch River, Tennessee.