Westinghouse Electric Company today announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Czech company Vitkovice a.s., in preparation for the potential construction of Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic.
According to the agreement, Westinghouse intends to procure many important components from Vitkovice if their AP1000 reactor is selected for the completion of the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant. Such equipment includes vital steelwork for the containment vessel and shield building, various sub-assemblies for structural and mechanical modules, and major components of the reactor circuit.
The agreement marks a milestone in Westinghouse’s continuing activities to develop and subsequently deliver a proposal to CEZ, for the construction of the AP1000 nuclear power plant at the Temelin site in the South Bohemian region of the country. The agreement was signed in Prague by Westinghouse’s President for the Europe, Middle East & Africa region, Yves Brachet and Vitkovice a.s. Chairman of the Board of Directors Jan Svetlik, who is also the President of the Czech Machinery Cluster. Under the MOU, Westinghouse and Vitkovice will also work together to identify opportunities for members of the Cluster to become qualified suppliers to Westinghouse.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Brachet said:
“I am delighted to be able to sign this important agreement today. Westinghouse has a policy that 'We Buy Where We Build' and this announcement demonstrates how seriously we take that approach – even when it has been explicitly stated by the Czech Government and our potential customer, CEZ, that localization is not something they will be considering in the bid evaluation process.
As nuclear new build programs around the world continue to make real progress, it is important to Westinghouse that we have a strong and diverse supply chain to ensure high quality delivery of these vital projects. By signing this MOU with us today, Vitkovice are taking an important step towards their participation in AP1000 projects in the Czech Republic and also potentially elsewhere in the region. I am pleased to welcome them to the Westinghouse AP1000 team, and I look forward to welcoming other members of the Czech Machinery Cluster in future.”
Mr Svetlik, Vitkovice a.s. Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Czech Machinery Cluster said:
“Equipment supply to the energy industry, and the complex delivery of energy sources, is the strategic business of VITKOVICE MACHINERY GROUP and this business sector creates major opportunities for the Czech Machinery Cluster. For these reasons, I am very happy to be signing this Memorandum, which opens up further opportunities to supply to nuclear energy companies, not only in the Czech Republic or Europe, but also beyond.”