Partnering to Build Wylfa Newydd

Posted by SONE on 18 January 2017 in Historic

Tagged with: Horizon, Japan, Wylfa Newydd.

The supply chains of three countries came together this week to discuss how they can work in partnership to deliver Horizon Nuclear Power’s Wylfa Newydd project.

At a two day event at the British Embassy in Tokyo, companies from the UK, Wales and Japan gathered alongside government officials, trade associations, and wider stakeholders to hear about the progress made on the transformative project on Anglesey, North Wales and build on the long history of civil nuclear cooperation between the countries.

Executives from Horizon and Hitachi-GE set out how there were already partnerships in place between companies working on the development of Wylfa Newydd and outlined the multiple opportunities that the project will present in the coming years. Officials from the UK and Welsh Governments also spoke on the importance of the nuclear sector in the UK and showcased the support available for Japanese companies in both countries.

Horizon and its lead contractor, Menter Newydd – a joint venture of Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, Bechtel, and JGC – are working to support partners in Japan, Wales, and the UK as they explore potential collaborations and begin building enduring relationships. Over the past year the project has raised awareness in Japan of Welsh and British capabilities, and in the UK of Japanese manufacturing.

Carl Devlin, Programme Director at Horizon said:

“Wylfa Newydd already represents a partnership between the UK, Japan and Wales, with companies and governments from all three countries working with us to prepare for construction. We want to see these partnerships grow still further as we move forward, with the project representing the next phase in the countries’ decades’ long history of close cooperation on nuclear power.”

Shunsuke Utena, Managing Director of Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, Ltd. and Executive Management Board member, Menter Newydd said:

“Increasing collaboration between Japanese, Welsh and UK suppliers will bring huge opportunities across the industries in all three countries. Companies can pool their expertise to complement one another, strengthening their offering to Wylfa Newydd, to their benefit and to ours. There are already positive signs of flourishing partnerships and we’re working with suppliers to encourage further progress.”

The event at the British Embassy focused on both the nuclear new build and decommissioning opportunities across the three countries and, alongside companies from the UK, Wales and Japan, it was attended by: officials from the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Department for International Trade, and the Wales Office; the Welsh Government’s Department for Economy, Skills & Natural Resources; the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association and the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum; and the UK’s Office for Nuclear Regulation.

About Horizon Nuclear Power

Horizon Nuclear Power was formed in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK. It was acquired by Hitachi Ltd of Japan in November 2012. The company is developing plans to build at least 5,400MW of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire. Its power station sites will employ 850 people each once operational with a construction workforce of between 8,000 and 10,000. For more information about Horizon, please visit https://www.horizonnuclearpower.com/.

About Menter Newydd

Menter Newydd is an unincorporated joint venture of Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, Ltd., Bechtel Management Company, Ltd. and JGC Corporation (UK) Ltd., taking joint and several responsibility for all activities undertaken in delivery of its contract to Horizon. Menter Newydd combines:

  • The expertise of Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe in the design, procurement and deployment of manufactured goods relating to the UK ABWR.
  • The expertise of Bechtel as an EPC and overall project management partner, including on-site construction activity, development of a construction supply-chain, construction planning and construction site management.
  • The expertise of JGC in project management and integration of Japanese and global supply chains, as well as delivery of balance of plant.

Source: The NIA