Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)
The CEO of the Nuclear Industry Association said, “This ambitious deal between industry and government will ensure nuclear plays a key role in providing the UK's low-carbon energy supply for the future, maximizing opportunities in overseas markets, leveraging technology and innovation and increasing competitiveness.”
The CEO of the Nuclear Advanced Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) said, “We will work with our industry and research partners to demonstrate the benefits of advanced techniques and technologies for manufacturers of all sizes. We will also play a leading role in the new national program to enhance the capabilities of the UK's supply chain, expanding our established Fit for Nuclear program and building on the success of Civil Nuclear Sharing in Growth.”
Assystem is an international engineering services consulting company based in Paris, France. This week it signed a memorandum of understanding with Nuclear AMRC. A representative for Assystem said that the two hundred and sixty-three million dollars committed by the U.K. government to nuclear power projects will help increase industrial competitiveness which will increase investor interest.
URENCO uses leading centrifuge technology to provide uranium enrichment services to its customers. The CEO of URENCO said, “This support boosts the robustness of the UK's fuel offering to international markets and helps to ensure that the country continues to act as a global leader in this sector. We, along with our consortium partners, are also delighted that our micro nuclear reactor, U-Battery, has received the green light to progress to Phase 1 of the government's AMR Program. During Phase 1 we will produce a feasibility study, which will make the commercial and technical case for U-Battery.”
Horizon Nuclear Power (HNP) is Hitachi’s U.K. subsidiary. It is currently developing two advanced boiling water reactors for the Wylfa Newydd site in Wales. The CEO of HNP said that the Sector Deal "clearly sets out the opportunities and the challenges for the industry, for example, building the skills base needed and the commitment to increase gender diversity. We look forward to playing our part.”
The Heart of the South West (HotSW) LEP is a strong and dynamic business-led partnership between the private sector, local authorities, universities and colleges. The Chairman of LEP said, “We have sixty-six billion dollars worth of commercial opportunities to realize in this sector across the region; the partners have worked closely together to create this deal and stand ready to deliver." LEP believes that the government funding of the Sector Deal would increase job creation. It has started a business support service to help small and mid-sized businesses take advantage of supply chain opportunities generated by the EDF project to build two European Pressurized Reactors at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England.
The engineering policy advisor at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said the new thermal hydraulics facility at Anglesey will improve the U.K.’s nuclear research and development capabilities. He went on to say that “Along with the likely construction of the Horizon nuclear power station at Wylfa and the potential for a small modular reactor at Trawsfynydd, North Wales could become a world-leading industrial cluster.” In making the announcement at the existing nuclear site at Trawsfynydd, the Secretary of State highlighted its suitability for hosting the UK's first SMR.
The GMB trade union says that its only job is to improve the pay conditions of the members of GMB in their workplaces. A GMB representative emphasized the jobs potential of small modular reactors. He said that SMRs should be designed and constructed in the U.K. and exported to other nations. The chairman of GMB said that the U.K. should have multiple government owned sites where licenses are granted to companies to design and build SMRs.