Westinghouse, Vitkovice to construct reactors for Temelin nuclear plants

Westinghouse Electric Company has entered into a strategic partnership with Vitkovice to construct and deliver Westinghouse’s two AP1000 nuclear reactors, if CEZ Group selects the reactors for its new Temelin nuclear power plants in Czech Republic.

Vitkovice, under the partnership, will join the team of Westinghouse, Toshiba, and Metrostav to jointly fabricate key structural and mechanical equipment modules.

The AP1000 nuclear reactor uses modular-construction techniques to run many construction activities in parallel to reduce time, cost and risk associated with the construction and financing of a nuclear plant.

Westinghouse EMEA Business & Development vice president Randy Galm said the strategically important partnership with
Vitkovice, to fabricate and install modules for the proposed new Temelin nuclear power plants, illustrates Westinghouse’s deep commitment to localization in the Czech Republic.

"The successful delivery of these modules will also help the power plants are built on time and on budget," Galm said.

"The fabrication of these important modules in the Czech Republic also represents an excellent opportunity for both Westinghouse and Vitkovice to eventually export these components throughout Europe, in anticipation of additional AP1000 reactors being built, thereby strengthening our regional supply chain base further and providing important additional opportunities to Vitkovice and other Czech manufacturing companies."

Vitkovice board chairman and Czech Machinery Cluster president Jan Svetlik said the members of the Czech Machinery Cluster are also ready to participate in new opportunities and challenges in the industry.

"A qualified supply chain consisting of over 3000 trained and experienced individuals is ready to participate in the opportunities from the Temelin 3 & 4 project," Svetlik added.

The AP1000 reactor design has been approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the UK Office for Nuclear Regulation and is compliant with European Utility Requirements.

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba is a nuclear energy company and a supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies.

Czech based company Vitkovice is a member of VITKOVICE MACHINERY GROUP, an engineering group.