UniStar Nuclear Adds U.S. Manufacturing Partner for Its Planned Nuclear Power Plants
01 August 2006 - 5:05PM
PR Newswire (US)
Expands One-Stop Shop for U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor Fleet to
Include U.S. Manufactured Major Components WASHINGTON, Aug. 1
/PRNewswire/ -- UniStar Nuclear, the jointly developed enterprise
of Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) and AREVA, today announced that
AREVA NP Inc. and BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), a subsidiary of
McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR), have signed an agreement
that will re- establish commercial nuclear power plant component
manufacturing in the United States and will support the UniStar
business model and future fleet of nuclear power plants in North
America. The agreement between the two nuclear technology
development and manufacturing leaders is a major link in the
UniStar supply chain. It will result in the ability to manufacture
components for UniStar's fleet of U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor
(U.S. EPR) advanced nuclear power plants, as well as commercial
nuclear plant replacement components for operating North American
plants. "Adding BWXT's proven precision manufacturing capability
for high-quality major plant components strengthens UniStar's
one-stop shop approach to license, build and operate advanced
nuclear power plants in North America," said Michael J. Wallace,
co-chief executive officer of UniStar Nuclear, executive vice
president of Constellation Energy, and president of Constellation
Energy subsidiary, Constellation Generation Group. "Both the Bush
Administration and Congress have done the nation a real service by
developing, passing and carrying out the Energy Policy Act of 2005,
which will enable both BWXT and UniStar Nuclear to play an
important role in increasing the nation's supply of reliable
electricity in the future." Wallace added that BWXT's position as a
global leader in precision nuclear manufacturing enhances an
already strong UniStar business model, particularly as U.S. EPR
projects are developed. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute,
there is potential for up to 18 license applications for new
reactors in the United States by 2009. He said that with so much
activity, global supply of forgings and major components for new
plants may well become an issue. "We're extremely proud of the fact
that we're ushering in a new era of nuclear power in America. To
meet the challenges associated with that effort, we must establish
the necessary domestic manufacturing infrastructure to support the
anticipated demand," said Tom Christopher, CEO of AREVA Inc. and
co-chief executive officer of UniStar Nuclear. "BWXT is a proven,
reliable supplier of both heavy and precision components of the
highest quality whose facilities in the 1960s and 1970s supplied a
number of nuclear components that are in use in the U.S. operating
nuclear fleet today. Together with our nuclear manufacturing
engineering support, we are establishing a world-class entity that
fully supports the UniStar business model's vision for a fleet of
U.S. EPRs to be made in America by Americans and for Americans."
BWXT's Nuclear Operations Division facility located on the Ohio
River in Mount Vernon, Ind., will manufacture the components under
the agreement as a subcontractor to AREVA. The facility currently
manufactures non-commercial nuclear components for the U.S.
government, and it could begin manufacturing commercial nuclear
components as early as 2006. BWXT has a similar manufacturing
facility in Barberton, Ohio, that will continue its non- commercial
manufacturing operations. Both the Mount Vernon and Barberton
facilities recently received renewed nuclear accreditation from the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Authorizations
granted include the "N", "NPT" and "NA" certificates to support
BWXT's participation in commercial nuclear manufacturing. "Being
involved in a re-emerging nuclear market with a world industry
leader like AREVA is a strategic move forward and a great step for
our company. This partnership has the potential to grow our already
substantial base of nuclear manufacturing," said John A. Fees,
president and chief operating officer of BWXT. "AREVA's EPR design
is already under construction -- no other supplier can provide the
completeness and feasibility of their design in support of
long-lead procurement of heavy components for new plant
construction. BWXT is excited to be working with AREVA as the
American nuclear industry continues to strive for national energy
security." BWXT has designed and fabricated thousands of ASME Code
pressure vessels and has been a major supplier of heavy
fabrications to the nuclear industry since its inception. The
Nuclear Operations Division at its Mount Vernon facility has a
growing and active workforce and its manufacturing space covers
580,000 square feet. The facility recently completed extensive
upgrades in equipment capabilities and capacities including
multiple, large, full- contouring CNC horizontal and vertical
machining centers; large gantry robotic welding centers; and
state-of-the-art support equipment for machining and welding. "We
are committed to delivering our high-quality, specialized nuclear
manufacturing skills and resources to the commercial marketplace.
This agreement demonstrates BWXT's confidence in the renewal of
commercial nuclear power in the United States," said Fees.
Constellation Energy selected the advanced EPR nuclear power plant
technology when Constellation Energy and AREVA formed UniStar
Nuclear as a jointly developed endeavor to provide a unique,
flexible business framework to develop, license, deploy and operate
of an initial fleet of four advanced U.S. EPRs. "UniStar Nuclear,
our joint endeavor with Constellation Energy, and our manufacturing
agreement with BWXT clearly demonstrate AREVA's substantial
commitment to deploying a new generation of safe, reliable and
economical nuclear power plants in North America to help ensure our
energy security and independence," said Christopher. UniStar
Nuclear (http://www.unistarnuclear.com/) is headquartered in
Annapolis, Md. Constellation Energy
(http://www.constellation.com/), a FORTUNE 200 company with 2005
revenues of $17.1 billion, is the nation's largest competitive
supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial
customers and the nation's largest wholesale power seller.
Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on
behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a
diversified fleet of more than 100 generating units located
throughout the United States, totaling approximately 12,000
megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity
and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
(BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. As the leading
U.S. nuclear supplier and a key player in the electricity
transmission and distribution sector, AREVA's 5000 American
employees are committed to serve the nation and pave the way for
the future of the electricity market. The company's commitment to
America is reflected in its initial investment of $200 million in
the U.S. EPR. With 40 locations across the nation and $1.8 billion
in revenues in 2005, AREVA combines homegrown leadership, access to
worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. In
the U.S. and in over 100 countries around the world, AREVA is
engaged in the 21st century's greatest challenges making energy
available to all, protecting the planet and acting responsibly
towards future generations. AREVA, Inc. is headquartered in
Bethesda, Md. Visit us at http://www.us.areva.com/. BWXT,
headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, is the premier manager of
high-consequence nuclear and national security operations. The
Company is a proven leader in fuel development and fabrication,
nuclear component manufacturing, nuclear plant design, nuclear
facility operations and advanced nuclear research. BWXT has
delivered the most sophisticated nuclear components ever produced
and has consistently achieved excellence in the safe and efficient
conduct of nuclear operations while meeting rigorous customer
requirements. The Company's diverse capabilities also include
decontamination and decommissioning, waste management, engineering,
and project management services. BWXT has more than 11,000
employees in 11 states. DATASOURCE: UniStar Nuclear CONTACT: Penny
Phelps of AREVA, +1-301-841-1600, ; Robert L. Gould of
Constellation Energy, +1-410-234-7433, ; or Regina Carter of BWX
Technologies, +1-434-522-5158, Web site:
http://www.unistarnuclear.com/ http://www.constellation.com/
http://www.us.areva.com/
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