Supply Chain Opportunities in New Nuclear Build

The UK currently leads Europe in its commitment to new nuclear build and sees nuclear generated power as part of a balanced energy policy that includes renewables as well as conventional power generation.
The UK new nuclear build is required to replace the ageing fleet of nuclear power plants all but one of which are due to be closed by 2023. It is envisaged that ten new plants will be built in the next ten to fifteen years in the UK, globally it is estimated that 230 plants will be on order by 2020. Each new UK plant will cost in the order of £2.8bn/£3.0bn. It is essential that UK manufacturing engage with the equipment suppliers as soon as possible if they are to benefit from this massive investment programme.
I recently attended a Workshop organised by the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) and Special Metals Forum (SMF) in association with BERR and DECC. The objective of the workshop was to outline the opportunities that the new nuclear build in the UK and the rest of the world offers to UK manufacturers. There are two main principal equipment suppliers for the UK new nuclear build who are currently going through the approval process for their reactor designs, these are AREVA and Westinghouse. Whilst construction is not planned to start until 2011 both companies have already started to compile pools of UK suppliers. Do not be put off registering your interest in being part of what will be the biggest investment project in the UK for the next two decades by the requirements of the nuclear components industry as a large proportion of the spend on a nuclear power station is on non nuclear standard equipment .

AREVA is holding a Supplier Fair at the Motor Cycle Museum in Birmingham on the 16th of March. Applications to attend can be obtained through the web portal http://suppliers.areva.com/uk_supply_chain_EPR
Details for Westinghouse can be found on the following site, www.westinghousenuclear.com


Bob Ruddlestone
UK Steel

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