EDF Energy has named more preferred bidders for Hinkley Point C, the UK's first nuclear project in over 20 years. Dozens of companies are set to share contracts worth more than £1.3bn for construction of twin unit EPR plant, subject to a final investment decision.
Balfour Beatty Bailey, a joint venture of Balfour Beatty and Yorkshire-based NG Bailey, is the preferred bidder for the £460m Hinkley Point C power station electrical package. This six-year work package includes the design and installation of circa 76,000 cables totalling over 3000km in length as well as cable containment support systems; fire and environmental sealing; design and installation of earthing systems, and specialist packages associated with data acquisition and plant control. Design work could begin in 2016, with construction beginning in 2017, subject to the FID.
Cavendish Boccard Nuclear has been chosen to deliver the Balance of Nuclear Island (BNI) mechanical erection package, which includes detailed design, fabrication, installation and testing of extensive pipework systems and their supporting structures, as well as the installation of pump sets, valves and tanks. French firm Boccard, which specialises in engineering procurement and construction management of piping systems, has undertaken a similar scope to that being pursued at Hinkley Point on 42 of the French nuclear power fleet, including the Flamanville 3 EPR. Cavendish Nuclear brings knowledge and experience in delivering projects on UK nuclear sites.
UK-based engineering firm Doosan Babcock and its partners under the ACTAN consortium, Cofely Axima, a subsidiary of ENGIE, and nuclear HVAC specialist Tunzini Nucleaire, a VINCI Energies subsidiary, are set to be awarded a contract worth £220m for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning package. The seven and a half year contract covers design, qualification, procurement, installation and testing of the HVAC equipment.
Weir has been named the preferred bidder for the large pumps for cooling water, and Clyde Union for the main pumps for feedwater system and cooling water system.
Laing O'Rourke of Dartford, UK has been selected as the preferred bidder for construction of workers' campus accommodation. Premier Interlink WACO UK Ltd from East Yorkshire has been chosen for construction of temporary buildings.
ABB has been awarded the power transmission package.
EDF also revealed that project management contracts have been signed with a number of UK firms: KBR (site operations and equipment contract management); Jacobs (building and civil work management); Gleeds (contract management services); Faithful+Gould (contract management services); Turner and Townsend (project controls and project management); and Mace (contract management services).
Local companies close to the Hinkley Point C site in Somerset have joined forces to supply site services, transport and accommodation under contracts worth more than £225m.
EDF previously announced four main preferred bidders for engineering and construction, including Areva, Alstom, Bouygues TP/Laing O'Rourke and Costain.
The French-owned utility estimates that more than 60% of the construction cost will be placed with UK firms, higher than an initial estimate of 57%. The project will provide 25,000 jobs during construction, including 1000 apprenticeships.
"Hinkley Point C will be at the forefront of the revitalisation of the UK's industrial and skills base, and we have worked hard to build a robust supply chain to support new nuclear in the UK," said EDF Energy CEO Vincent de Rivaz.
"The project will boost industrial stamina in the UK and kick-start the new nuclear programme. Experience gained at Hinkley Point will help firms be successful in nuclear projects around the world."
Once completed the 2x1670MW power station will provide reliable, low carbon electricity to meet 7% of UK demand.
