Progress on Moorside Project welcomed by NIA
The Nuclear Industry Association have today welcomed the announcement that Toshiba Corporation has agreed in principle to acquire a 60% stake in the NuGeneration Limited Moorside Project which will provide up to 3.4 GW of new capacity.
Toshiba Corporation plan to build three AP1000 reactors in West Cumbria with electricity generation due to begin in 2024. It has been estimated by Toshiba that this project will create 20,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent, operational jobs when complete. The project will provide an enormous boost for local, regional and national supply chains in the UK.
Toshiba’s entry into the UK is a vote of confidence in the recently ratified Energy Act which aims to drive inward investment to the UK’s energy market. The Moorside project will help the Government cut carbon emissions, enhance Britain’s energy security and stabilise household energy bills.
The AP1000 has already completed a number of stages of the Generic Design Assessment process. In December 2011, the Office for Nuclear Regulation issued interim Design Acceptance Confirmation (iDAC) and the Environment Agency granted interim Statements of Design Acceptability (iSoDA). Following finalisation of Toshiba’s acquisition the AP1000 will complete the remaining stages of the assessment.
NIA Chief Executive, Keith Parker commented, “This is another huge step in the regeneration of the UK’s new nuclear industry and we look forward to working with Westinghouse, Toshiba and GDF Suez on the Moorside project.”
“The Westinghouse AP1000 reactor is currently under construction in America and China, and we welcome the entry of this technology into the UK market
“The fact that there will now be three different reactor designs (EPR, ABWR, AP1000) being constructed in the UK is great news for NIA members, the wider economy and the development of new skills and manufacturing capabilities in the UK.”
