National and regional events will be held early next year to meet subcontractors and suppliers and put a supply chain in place for a new generation of nuclear reactors.
Following the acquisition, Hitachi owns two sites at Wylfa, Anglesey, and Oldbury, South Gloucestershire. Horizon plans to build two to three c1,300MW nuclear power plants at each of the sites.
As previously reported, Hitachi will now begin discussions with UK regulators to obtain approval to use advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) technology under the UK’s generic design assessment process. ABWR technology is the only advanced nuclear technology (Generation III) in operation in the world, Hitachi said, and is licensed for use in several countries including the USA. Four ABWRs having already been successfully built in Japan, on time and to budget, it said.
Masaharu Hanyu, general manager of Hitachi’s nuclear systems division, said: “Hitachi is committed to helping the UK achieve its vision of a secure, low-carbon and affordable energy supply. The acquisition of Horizon is the first step in this journey, which will see us strive to build a strong UK power production company and support the creation of thousands of highly skilled jobs in the UK’s energy sector. We look forward to welcoming Horizon management and employees to Hitachi and working with them on this exciting project.”
Joint vendors of the Horizon project were the German companies RWE and E.ON, which opted to quit the nuclear business after the Fukishima meltdown in Japan last year following the earthquake there.
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