EDF calls in Assystem to deliver Hinkley’s nuclear reactors
22 Nov 2016
French energy major EDF has called in engineering firm Assystem to help build two European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) at Hinkley Point C nuclear facility in Somerset.
Hinkley Point C, which gained approval for construction during September, will sit adjacent to the existing Hinkley Point A power station, which is currently being decommissioned, and Hinkley Point B power station, which remains operational.
The new £18 billion facility will generate 3.2GW of power, with the first of the reactors expected to come online in 2023. Assystem’s involvement in the project represents a revenue boost of €120 million (£102m), the company said.
According to Assystem, it has helped development of all EPRs worldwide – including EDF’s Flamanville plant in France, which has encountered several problems.
However, Stéphane Aubarbier, the company’s executive vice-president, claims Hinkley Point project is already better prepared than Flamanville.
“First, lessons have been learned from previous EPR projects. Second, the chosen project management methods are now global and ensure compliance with both costs and deadlines,” he said.
Despite this, the development of Hinkley Point C has not been without its own issues.
Aside from multiple delays, an investigation that began in December 2013 questioned the plant’s operators over the possible breaching of EU competition rules.
In that instance, the European Commission, which led the investigation, eventually cleared the plant of any wrongdoing in October 2014.
