Horizon appoints Bechtel to manage Wylfa Newydd nuclear project

Horizon Nuclear Power has appointed Bechtel as the project management contractor for the proposed Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant on the Isle of Anglesey.

The company has also signed further contracts with Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe and JGC New Energy UK for the continued provision of support during the development stage.

Together with Horizon, Bechtel will oversee the construction of the power station in North Wales, managing the contractual and commercial arrangements with suppliers on behalf of the developer. Nearly 200 of its employees will be embedded within Horizon.

Bechtel has helped to deliver more than 150 nuclear plants around the world, acting as architectural engineer for 71 and building 42.

Wylfa Newydd will generate power using two 1.35GW UK advanced boiling water reactors (ABWR) supplied by Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy. The design was approved by regulators in December following the completion of a generic design assessment.

The reactors will be installed by Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, which will also fulfil the role of architectural engineer. Horizon was acquired by its parent company, Hitachi, in 2012.

JGC will help to deliver the “balance of plant” – the supporting components and systems needed to generate power beyond the reactors themselves.

Horizon Nuclear Power chief executive Duncan Hawthorne, said: “These world-leading companies bring a wealth of nuclear, engineering and construction expertise to complement our growing organisation and will help us replicate the cost and schedule successes of the previous four ABWRs.

“The UK still needs reliable nuclear power to help transform our energy mix, and we are gearing up to deliver that. Our first power station will be cheaper than what has gone before and after that, with smart financing, supply chain learnings and no need for first time overheads, future project costs will fall further still.”

Barbara Rusinko, president of Bechtel’s nuclear, security and environmental business, said: “We’ve been part of the Horizon family for several years, and it’s been a pleasure to work alongside the company as it has evolved through its development phase.

“We look forward to continuing to bring our expertise to the construction of the UK’s next new nuclear power station at Wylfa Newydd in our new role as project management contractor.”

In June, business and energy secretary Greg Clark confirmed the government was considering making a direct investment in the project and would shortly begin negotiations with Hitachi.

The following month the Planning Inspectorate accepted an application from Horizon for a development consent order for the plant. It will begin its formal examination of the 41,000 page submission in the autumn.