Several companies have submitted license applications to build U.S. EPR nuclear plants and more are under consideration
- By Stephen Heiser -
AREVA began enlisting manufacturers at its first U.S. Supplier Day in Baltimore. The AREVA Supplier Day aims to identify and begin certification of new partner companies to help supply and build a U.S. EPR nuclear plant in Maryland and others around the world. Representatives from more than 80 companies attended the event. Maryland is the first stop in a series of Supplier Days to be held in states where U.S. EPR reactors are planned.
Several companies have submitted license applications to build U.S. EPR nuclear plants and more are under consideration. AREVA is looking to identify and qualify suppliers that can help supply and build the new plants and support construction projects in their states and around the world. AREVA plans to invest more than $3 billion in the U.S. energy infrastructure, such as the AREVA Newport News Facility in Virginia and Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility in Idaho, and has already begun creating new jobs.
“AREVA is committed to the revival of the U.S. nuclear energy industry and is investing in new nuclear projects around the country, and now we are looking for partners who can help us manufacture U.S. EPR nuclear plants that are ‘Made in America,’” said Mike Rencheck, President and CEO of AREVA NP Inc. “The strong response to our call for partners confirms our conviction that the AREVA EPR technology offers the path of greatest certainty for new nuclear power generation and to brings jobs to U.S. communities.”
A new U.S. EPR project would create up to 11,000 direct and indirect jobs during component manufacturing and plant construction. Additionally, it would create more than 400 permanent jobs and spur billions of dollars of investment into the regional economy. Such a project would require hundreds of qualified suppliers and subcontractors. When complete, the 1,600+ Megawatt U.S. EPR nuclear plant would produce clean, reliable, CO2-free baseload electricity for more than 1.6 million households.
The lead project for the U.S. EPR reactor is under development by UniStar Nuclear Energy LLC, a joint venture between Constellation Energy and EDF. The new nuclear plant would be located adjacent to Constellation’s Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in southern Maryland.
As a leading U.S. nuclear vendor and a key player in the electricity transmission and distribution sector, AREVA Inc.`s 6,000 U.S. energy employees are committed to serving the nation and paving the way for the future of the electricity market. With 45 locations across the nation and nearly $2 billion in energy revenues in 2008, AREVA Inc., through its subsidiaries, combines U.S. leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. In the U.S. and in more than 100 countries around the world, AREVA is engaged in the 21st century`s greatest challenges: making energy available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly toward future generations. AREVA Inc. is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Visit us at http://us.areva.com or follow us at Twitter http://twitter.com/arevainc