| £30 billion of value to UK's economy could be created by Westinghouse AP1000TM | | Print | |
| Monday, 22 September 2008 | |
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£30 billion of value to UK’s economy could be created by Westinghouse AP1000TM Westinghouse Electric Company has today published an important report outlining how the AP1000TM nuclear reactor could deliver in excess of £30 billion of value to the UK’s economy via their unique and mutually beneficial ‘Buy Where We BuildTM’ strategy for supply chain engagement. Westinghouse is the first of the reactor vendors interested in the UK market to quantify the value that could be created in the UK supply chain by building and operating a fleet of AP1000sTM. The report, entitled ‘Maximising Opportunities for the UK Supply Chain’, has been launched today at an event attended by Malcolm Wicks, the Energy Minister and has been independently reviewed and verified by the GMB, Prospect and Unite Trades Unions. David Powell, Westinghouse’s UK Regional Vice President said: “A fleet of AP1000sTM built and operated in the UK, using local resources and skills is hugely positive and represents massive opportunities for local communities over many years. “Westinghouse is unique because we do not have our own in-house supply chain organisation. This means that, through our ‘Buy Where We BuildTM’ strategy we can make maximum use of the local supply chain and that creates opportunity for everyone. Only two weeks ago we signed three groundbreaking UK nuclear supply chain agreements with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Doosan Babcock to collaborate on work associated with bringing the AP1000TM nuclear power plant to the UK.” Secretary of State John Hutton said: "This report from Westinghouse illustrates why I am so determined to press all the buttons to get nuclear built in this country at the earliest opportunity. Nuclear is absolutely indispensable for our long term energy security bringing British jobs and a wealth of opportunities for UK manufacturers." Dougie Rooney, National Officer, Unite added: "The AP1000 nuclear reactor could secure thousands of jobs and Westinghouse's strategy is leading the campaign to develop the UK supply chain into a global player. “The opportunity to create up to 10,000 highly skilled jobs, reduce the UK's dependency on energy sources from overseas and the reduction of CO2 emissions all form a compelling case to support nuclear energy." Westinghouse has a successful track record of localisation wherever it operates and the modular nature of the AP1000TM design particularly lends itself to this approach enabling a large proportion of the plant to be built in UK shipyards and factories. Westinghouse currently operates the UK’s nuclear fuel factory at Springfields in Preston and this is where they could manufacture the fuel for the AP1000TM plants in the UK, thereby securing hundreds of high quality jobs for two generations
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