Georgia Power and Westinghouse Electric have agreed to a 48-hour extension of the interim construction agreement that was due to end June 3, the companies announced.
The extension, reported by E&E News, was announced on the heels of a Westinghouse announcement concerning the end of a lockout of 172 members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers union in Newington, New Hampshire, The union, commonly known as the Boilermakers, have ratified an agreement the ended the lockout that began on May 21 after Westinghouse became frustrated with the lack of progress on contract terms.
“This agreement enables us to continue manufacturing the components critical to the nuclear industry in New Hampshire. We believe this competitive three-year contract is in the best interest of both Westinghouse and the Boilermakers, and will continue our mutual success,” said Westinghouse Chief Operating Officer Mark Marano.
The new contract runs through May 3, 2020, Westinghouse announced.
In Georgia, thousands of workers are waiting for confirmation that the Plant Vogtle expansion project will proceed as planned. Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Japanese corporation Toshiba, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 29. Westinghouse was in charge of the construction operations and is in negotiations with Georgia Power on how to transfer the project over to the owners, which includes Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, Dalton Utilities and the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia.
In related news, media reports are picking apart the released documents concerning the V.C. Summer expansion project in South Carolina, pointing to $325 million in cost overruns, which are a fraction of the total overrun costs. The South Carolina Public Service Commission ordered the release of the documents in May, although Westinghouse previously kept them sealed, judging the documents to be proprietary.
Among the newly revealed expenses are $250 million in changes to one of the reactor shield buildings, which includes $36.9 million for upgraded security. Change orders also added $12.9 million for additional operator training, $1 million for a training simulator, $1.5 million for computer maintenance, and $779,731 for road repairs.
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