The EPC contract for Calvert Cliffs 3 is planned to be the first in a series of standardized EPC contracts for a fleet of U.S. EPR™ facilities that will be licensed, developed and constructed as part of the UniStar Nuclear Energy business model.
"Bechtel is excited about this opportunity,” said Carl Rau, president of Bechtel Nuclear. “We have continued to stay in the nuclear business for more than 60 years, and with our ongoing nuclear projects, Bechtel has the necessary qualified nuclear professionals, trained craft supervision, approved nuclear processes and procedures, Quality Assurance program and American Society of Mechanical Engineers code, section III certification program to support a successful implementation of this important project.”
“The signing of this EPC terms sheet provides another level of certainty for UniStar’s business model, laying the foundation for the EPC contract upon which all EPC contracts for our planned fleet will be based,” said George Vanderheyden, president and chief executive officer of UniStar Nuclear Energy. “A new nuclear energy facility at Calvert Cliffs would create thousands of new American jobs in the manufacturing and construction industries and provide enough greenhouse-gas-emissions-free energy to power more than 1.3 million homes.”
The AREVA EPR™ design is an evolutionary 1,600+ MWe class pressurized water reactor based on well-proven technology and capitalizes on the experience of a global fleet of 87 pressurized water reactors. The AREVA EPR™ design incorporates significant improvements in safety with four redundant safeguard systems and airplane crash protection providing the greatest physical safety for 21st century scenarios. Shorter outage duration and flexible fuel management provide lower total lifecycle costs and improved economics compared to previous technologies.
AREVA is making significant capital investments to develop the infrastructure to support a U.S. nuclear resurgence. To prepare to produce EPR™ nuclear energy facilities in the U.S., AREVA Newport News, LLC, an AREVA joint venture with Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, will begin construction this summer on a $360-million-plus heavy-equipment manufacturing and engineering facility in Newport News, Va. AREVA has started licensing the Eagle Rock enrichment facility, a multi-billion dollar investment facility in Idaho.
The proposed U.S. EPR™ project at Calvert Cliffs 3 will provide a boost to the local economy. U.S. EPR™ facilities are estimated to generate as many as 4,000 skilled crafts jobs during construction. On June 1, 2009, Bechtel announced approval of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO and the National Construction Alliance II and all affiliated international unions for Calvert Cliffs 3. Under the PLA, the unions commit to provide qualified, skilled craft workers to the project, and Bechtel commits to provide fair wages, fringe benefits, and working conditions for all craft workers.
In addition to the craft jobs during construction, the facility will generate approximately 400 permanent positions once the facility begins commercial operation. Many more indirect jobs and new business growth will be generated in nearby communities.
ABOUT AREVA
As the leading U.S. nuclear vendor and a key player in the electricity transmission and distribution sector, AREVA Inc.’s 6,000 U.S. energy employees are committed to serving the nation and paving the way for the future of the electricity market. With 45 locations across the nation and nearly $2 billion in energy revenues in 2008, AREVA Inc., through its subsidiaries, combines U.S. leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. In the U.S. and in more than 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 toward future generations. AREVA Inc. is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.ABOUT UNISTAR NUCLEAR ENERGY
UniStar Nuclear Energy, a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) and EDF Group, is powering the nuclear renaissance in North America through industry leadership, disciplined business practices and effective risk-management. Based in Baltimore, Md., UniStar Nuclear Energy provides the licensing, construction and operating services needed to support the expansion of clean, safe and sustainable nuclear energy in the United States.For more information, contact:
Francis Canavan
Media Relations Manager
1-301-228-8950
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