With their AP1000 (TM) nuclear reactor, Westinghouse said it could help bring more than £30bn to the UK economy.

US engineering firm Westinghouse has published research suggesting that a nuclear new-build programme in the UK could boost the economy by £30 billion. 

The firm, one of the three shortlisted to provide reactor designs for new plants in Britain, said that a nuclear renaissance would provide “massive opportunities” for communities across the country.

With their AP1000 (TM) nuclear reactor, Westinghouse said it could help bring more than £30bn to the economy through construction, operating and servicing of the new plants. It is thought that up to 10,000 skilled engineering jobs could be created through the programme.

David Powell, Westinghouse’s UK Regional Vice President said: “Westinghouse is unique because we do not have our own in-house supply chain organisation. This means that, through our ‘Buy Where We Build (TM)’ strategy we can make maximum use of the local supply chain and that creates opportunity for everyone.”

The report, entitled ‘Maximising Opportunities for the UK Supply Chain’ has been independently reviewed and verified by the GMB, Prospect and Unite Trade Unions.

Secretary of State John Hutton said: “This report from Westinghouse illustrates why I am so determined to press all the buttons to get nuclear built in this country at the earliest opportunity. Nuclear is absolutely indispensable for our long term energy security bringing British jobs and a wealth of opportunities for UK manufacturers.”

Dougie Rooney, National Officer, Unite added: “The AP1000 nuclear reactor could secure thousands of jobs and Westinghouse’s strategy is leading the campaign to develop the UK supply chain into a global player.

“The opportunity to create up to 10,000 highly skilled jobs, reduce the UK’s dependency on energy sources from overseas and the reduction of CO2 emissions all form a compelling case to support nuclear energy.”

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation, is the world’s pioneering nuclear power company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.

Westinghouse runs the Springfields site in Preston, Lancashire (where around 1500 people are employed), on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. The vast majority of the UK’s nuclear fuel has been made at Springfields over the past 50 years.

For more information on Westinghouse, visit: www.Westinghousenuclear.com