I & C Energo recently reached an agreement to provide instrumentation and control systems for new reactors in the Czech Republic if the Westinghouse AP1000 design wins a bid for the expansion of the Temelin nuclear plant.
On Monday Westinghouse announced a memorandum of understanding with the Czech engineering supply company, a subsidiary of the Hungarian MOL Group.
“Westinghouse and I&C Energo have a relationship that goes back over a decade to the work we did together on the reactors that are already operating at Temelin. We know the company well, and I am pleased we are looking to work together on the next generation of Temelin reactors. Working with Czech companies such as I&C Energo is a key part of our ‘we buy where we build’ approach,” Westinghouse regional president Anders Jackson was quoted as saying in a release. “I am sure that this MOU is the first of many, which we will sign with Czech companies as our work in the country progresses.”
Toshiba-owned Westinghouse hopes that two of its AP1000 reactors will be built at the plant run by state-controlled utility CEZ SA. Westinghouse will compete with France’s Areva SA and Russia’s ZAO Atomstroyexport for the award, scheduled to be announced in 2013.
Two nuclear plants currently operate in the Czech Republic, with Temelin becoming the largest power producer in the country in 2003. According to CEZ, it generates 2,000 megawatts from two VVER 1000 Type V 320 pressurized water reactors. Plans call for the two additional reactors at the plant to begin operating by 2025.