Horizon Nuclear Power (HNP) has welcomed the launch of the latest UK Government consultation on its application for regulatory justification of the UK Advanced Boiled Water Reactor (UK ABWR).
Horizon Nuclear – set up in 2009 to develop new nuclear power stations in the UK – was acquired by Hitachi Ltd of Japan in November 2012. The company is developing plans to build at least 5,400MW of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn, South Gloucestershire.
The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) submitted an application for regulatory justification of the UK ABWR to Ed Davey, UK Energy Secretary in December 2013, and yesterday marked the start of a 12 week consultation period, during which stakeholders will have the opportunity to comment on the application ahead of Davey’s decision.
The regulatory justification process is a legal requirement for new nuclear technology and is designed to ensure that the benefits to society of the UK ABWR outweigh any potential radiological health detriments.
Alan Raymant, Horizon Chief Operating Officer, said: “The consultation on the regulatory justification application of the reactor is an important milestone in our plans to develop power stations at Wylfa and Oldbury. We’re very pleased to see good progress being made.”
The consultation launch follows a string of significant developments at Horizon. In December the company signed a co-operation agreement with the UK Treasury intended to lead to access the UK Infrastructure Guarantee Scheme.
Horizon also signed important strategic framework contracts with engineering firms AMEC, Cavendish Nuclear, Atkins and Jacobs UK and last month the UK ABWR progressed to ‘Step 2’ of the Generic Design Assessment process.
Ken Sato, General Manager, Licensing, Hitachi Europe – for Hitachi-GE – said: “This consultation shows continuing progress in the Regulatory Justification of the UK ABWR, which is just one of the robust processes which proposed nuclear technologies must undergo.
“The launch of this latest consultation takes us one step closer to deployment of the UK ABWR – creating jobs and supply chain opportunities, as well as providing affordable, secure and sustainable energy for UK homes and businesses.”
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