Collaboration eyes nuclear pump market

Thursday, 27 May 2010

UK engineering group Weir is to team up with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to supply and maintain pumps for new nuclear power plants, initially in the UK, but later throughout Europe.

 

A reactor coolant pump (Image: MHI)

A joint cooperation agreement signed on 26 May at MHI's Takasago Machinery Works in Hyogo prefecture, Japan. Under the agreement, MHI will be responsible for pump design and manufacture for nuclear power generation, as well as pumping equipment across the 'conventional island' of a nuclear power plant, while Weir will provide sales support, project management, installation and after-sale services. Weir will also be responsible for the implementation of site health, safety and environmental systems. The partnership will be known as Weir-MHI.

 

The initial focus of the cooperation agreement will be on the nuclear new build market in the UK. However, MHI said: "This collaboration is positioned as the strategic move toward strengthening the supply chain in the European region as part of MHI's global supply system."

 

"This agreement with MHI provides an excellent opportunity to further grow our nuclear offering and build and strengthen customer relationships," said Keith Cochrane, CEO of Weir.

 

Akira Sawa, general manager of MHI's nuclear energy systems headquarters, commented: "This cooperation will enable us to expand our pump expertise into the UK with a full lifetime offering to the nuclear pump market."

 

In a statement, MHI said, "Going forward, through collaboration with Weir, MHI looks to secure and maintain a better position in NPP pump business competition in the UK. At the same time the company will further strengthen its vigorous marketing activities for other NPP businesses in order to establish a solid position in the European NPP market, where demand is expected to expand robustly in the years ahead."

 

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News