Rolls-Royce, Balfour Beatty, Areva to partner in construction of new UK nuclear plants

05 December 2008

UK aerospace and engineering giant Rolls-Royce, along with construction major Balfour Beatty, have announced an Anglo-French collaboration for the construction of the next generation of UK nuclear power plants.

Both companies will partner Areva, the state-owned French nuclear construction firm.

The two UK firms will supply reactor parts, engineering and construction skills to Areva in the building of a series of French-designed European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs). The first of these reactors is expected to be operational by the end of 2017.

While Rolls-Royce has for decades built and serviced reactors for the Royal Navy's submarines, Balfour Beatty has considerable experience in this area having been part of the construction of the Sellafield, Sizewell B, Hunterston and Torness nuclear stations in the 1970s and 1980s.

Rolls Royce had said in July that it would reorient its defence related nuclear activities to serve the civil nuclear market as well.

"Rolls-Royce and Areva have agreed a memorandum of understanding and will work together on supply chain development, manufacturing and engineering services," the company said yesterday.