Nuclear sector theme group

The nuclear newbuild sector faces some major challenges if its renaissance in the UK is to be successful. Therefore this year ECI and Constructing Excellence came together to progress jointly the latter’s theme group in this sector to ensure a cross-sector, construction/engineering response to these challenges. The group’s autumn meeting was hosted by EDF in Somerset last month and featured a site tour of the Hinckley Point C newbuild site. Key owners/clients in the UK, French and Swedish civil nuclear sector are participating, including EDF, Horizon, Sellafield and Vattenfall, as are the Nuclear Industry Association and the World Nuclear Association.

The theme group is led by Adrian Worker of CH2M, formerly of Amec and EDF, and is addressing the productivity challenge in this sector. It will be of no surprise to ECI members that the issues and opportunities being identified are not limited to nuclear. Indeed, when John Fotherby was consulted last week on the group’s draft first output, entitled ‘Factory Thinking’, he commented,

“While nuclear engineering / construction has its own peculiarities, the basic problems apply to all forms of major industrial / infrastructure projects – it’s a question of emphasis and focus. Further, while nuclear projects are major challenges, there are not that many of them constructed around the world – so if the problems are similar in other projects why not broaden the coverage to other areas…?”

We will be inviting some of the key players involved in the nuclear sector and specifically in this work to our event on February 21st in Amsterdam, so that joint exploration of the issues affecting industry at large and the possible solutions might be of benefit to all. Meanwhile, ‘Factory Thinking’ should be released in December, and to be added to the distribution list for the ECI/CE nuclear theme group, please click here. Don Ward