AREVA offers up to £400m to UK nuclear suppliers

London - AREVA has signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with 25 UK-based companies for the supply of components and services for new EPRTM nuclear reactors planned for the UK.

The suppliers involved cover a wide range of products and services, including forgings, valves, pumps, cranes, electronics, piping, tanking and refrigeration units, AREVA said 12 Dec.

Together with agreements already announced with Rolls-Royce, the scope of work could be worth up to £400 million to UK industry, the company stated.

AREVA said it had already identified 50 companies based in the UK with potential capability to meet the scope.

Of these 50, the 25 companies that have signed MOUs are pre-qualified and for the other 25, AREVA aims to start a pre-qualification process once it receives a firm order from EDF Energy.

The UK government backed Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre has agreed to support all 50 UK companies, to pre-qualify, qualify and then bid for work.

AREVA is also looking to enlarge the number of suppliers beyond the 50 already identified at this stage.

The agreements relate to the two EPRTM reactors planned by EDF Energy at Hinkley Point for which a site licence was granted last month. The collaboration could also extend to other EPRTM reactors including those planned at Sizewell.

AREVA’s EPRTM reactor is on the point of gaining regulatory approval in the UK with all regulatory issues resolved, according to said Philippe Knoche, AREVA’s chief operating officer.

“We are committed to making as much use as possible of the UK’s excellent engineering skills in the construction of the EPRTM reactor and to develop these skills further,” said Knoche.

“We hope that the prospect of a fleet of EPRTM reactors will provide an incentive to UK companies to invest. Work is already under way,” the COO concluded.