1,350 nuclear industry jobs safeguarded
A LANDMARK deal has been signed which will safeguard 1,350 jobs at a nuclear site in Lancashire.
Westinghouse Electric Company – which is part of the Toshiba Corporation – has confirmed that it has signed a 150 year lease on the Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing site, near Preston.
The deal also includes the permanent transfer of ownership to Westinghouse of Springfields Fuel Limited (SFL) from April 1.
SFL is currently owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) although it is operated by Westinghouse Electric UK Holdings.
The deal could result in the creation of many more jobs at the site in time if the British government places orders for Westinghouse’s AP1000 nuclear generator – which is currently being trialed by UK regulators.
The new arrangements were marked at a ceremony on the site yesterday which was attended by Westinghouse’s chief executive Dr Aris Candris, NDA commercial director John Clarke and the chief executive of Toshiba Corporation Power Systems Company, Yasuharu Igarashi.
Dr Candris said: “The new arrangements pave the way for significant investment by Westinghouse in Springfields that will maintain high quality jobs and provide security for current and new employees.
“Longer-term, we would expect to expand production to manufacture fuel for AP1000TM nuclear power plants which we intend to build in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.”
Mr Clarke added: “This agreement represents an excellent outcome for the UK taxpayer and along with recent land sales is another example of the NDA optimising value from our assets.”
“It concludes a successful five-year relationship with Westinghouse and provides the right platform to exploit the site’s potential for the benefit of the workforce, the local community and the UK nuclear industry.”
