EDF Energy renews operational support contract

Global engineering consultancy Amec Foster Wheeler has renewed an agreement to provide long-term engineering and technical support to the UK's fleet of operating nuclear power reactors. The agreement with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation is worth £125 million ($153 million).

Global engineering consultancy Amec Foster Wheeler has renewed an agreement to provide long-term engineering and technical support to the UK's fleet of operating nuclear power reactors. The agreement with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation is worth £125 million ($153 million).

The Heysham II plant, unit 2 of which last year set a new world record for the longest continuous operation of a commercial nuclear power reactor (Image: EDF Energy)

Amec Foster Wheeler said it expects the five-year agreement - which has an option to be extended for a further five years - to generate annual revenues of between £25 million and £30 million.

The company said the Technical Support Alliance 3 (TSA3) agreement will play "a key role in major plant upgrades and enhancements, compliance-related activities, and fleet-critical projects".

The signing of the TSA3 agreement follows Amec Foster Wheeler's partnership with EDF Energy under two similar frameworks - TSA1 and TSA2. These agreements have provided EDF Energy with access to specialist third party technical capability.

EDF Energy's managing director of generation Stuart Crooks said, "Amec Foster Wheeler has worked in partnership with EDF Energy for a number of years and shares our vision of zero harm, exceptional nuclear safety performance, and world record-breaking results. The support of all our strategic partners is an important factor as we continue to operate our nuclear stations to the highest standards, providing secure, low-carbon, affordable power for the UK."

Clive White, president of Amec Foster Wheeler's clean energy business, said: "Amec Foster Wheeler's deep technical knowledge and strong track record in project delivery are crucial to our continued support for EDF Energy's UK stations, which are producing more electricity than at any time since 2003."

He added, "Amec Foster Wheeler's relentless focus on safety and efficiency is designed to maximise the value of our customers' assets, and we look forward to working in close partnership with EDF Energy to ensure the safe, efficient, return on investment from its UK nuclear stations."

EDF Energy owns and operates eight nuclear power plants, comprising 14 advanced gas-cooled reactors and the UK's only pressurised water reactor.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News