(Front, L-R) chairman and CEO of French energy company EDF Jean-Bernard Levy, British Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark, chairman of China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) He Yu attend a signing ceremony in London, Britain, Sept. 29, 2016. CGN announced Thursday that it has signed all final agreements for the Hinkley Point C (HPC) project, and a suite of agreements relating to the projects of Sizewell C and Bradwell B, with French energy company EDF and the British government. (Xinhua)
PARIS, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- French nuclear energy group Areva announced on Thursday in a press release that it signed contracts worth 5 billion euros (5.61 billion U.S. dollars) which is related to Hinkley Point C project.
It came after the decision of the British government on September 15 to approve the construction of two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point C.
Areva said that the contracts were signed with French energy giant EDF and Nuclear New Builds Generation Company (NNB), a joint venture between EDF and China General Nuclear Power Corporation, laying out the scope of its involvement in the Hinkley Point C project.
According to the contracts, Areva's branch, Areva Nuclear Power (Areva NP) will be responsible for the delivery of the two nuclear steam supply systems, from design and supply to commissioning.
The company will also design, supply, install and commission the plant's operational and safety instrumentation and control system, and fabricate the fuel needed to power the two reactors.
Areva NP will also provide the material for the fuel fabrication, producing uranium and providing conversion and enrichment services. These activities will start in the early 2020s.
Philippe Knoche, chief executive officer of Areva, said that these contracts "are further proof of the credibility of the French offering on the international market. We are delighted to be involved in the relaunch of nuclear power in the United-Kingdom alongside EDF, NNB and our French, British and Chinese partners."
Bernard Fontana, chief executive officer of AREVA NP, added: "We are proud to have been selected as a partner for this flagship project for the British nuclear industry. This is a wonderful opportunity for AREVA NP to demonstrate its expertise. The HPC project will benefit from experience gained from the four EPR reactors currently under construction across the world and our teams are determined to make it a success."
As a nuclear energy group, Areva supplies high added-value products and services to support the operation of the global nuclear fleet. It is recognized by utilities around the world for its expertise, its skills in cutting-edge technologies and its dedication to the highest level of safety.
