Framatome ( French pronunciation: [fʁamatɔm] ) is a French nuclear reactor business. It is owned by Électricité de France (EDF) (80.5%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (19.5%).
64-500: The company first formed in 1958 to license Westinghouse's pressurized water reactor (PWR) designs for use in France. Similar agreements had been put in place with other European countries, and this led to a 1962 contract for a complete plant at Chooz . Westinghouse sold its stake to engineering firm Creusot-Loire in 1976, and the company became solely French owned. In 2001, Siemens sold its reactor business to Framatome. As part of
128-517: A 2030 start costing £34 billion (2015 prices, £46.5 billion in 2024 prices) or an unfavourable scenario with 2031 start costing £35 billion (2015 prices, £47.9 billion in 2024 prices). Early enabling works started in July 2008, with the construction of a car park for a ground investigation programme. In 2012, EDF purchased the site of the Manor of Sydenham near Bridgwater which had previously been used as
192-423: A French government-linked banking group. A January 1982 company reorganization simultaneously strengthened French public and private control of the company by allowing Creusot-Loire to increase its share of the company while increasing CEA say in the running of the firm. In 2001, German company Siemens ' nuclear business was merged into Framatome. Framatome and Siemens had been officially cooperating since 1989 on
256-450: A Transboundary Context , 'said the UK should consider refraining from further works' until it has heard back from other countries on whether it would be helpful for them to be formally notified under a treaty on transboundary environmental impacts. In July 2017, the estimated construction cost had climbed in two years to £19.6 billion and was revised to £20.3 billion accounting for
320-407: A UK government white paper announced support for a new generation of nuclear power stations to be built. Hinkley Point C, in conjunction with Sizewell C , was supposed to contribute 13% of UK electricity by the early 2020s. Areva estimated that their European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) reactor design could produce electricity at the competitive price of £24 per MWh. EDF , which at the time
384-588: A definitive view as to whether there should be a reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union and, if not, on the meaning of the Directive". In July 2014, the Court of Appeal rejected An Taisce's application on the basis 'that severe nuclear accidents were very unlikely... no matter how low the threshold for a "likely" significant effect on the environment... the likelihood of a nuclear accident
448-457: A factory site by British Cellophane , including the Grade II listed 16th century building. In 2014, 400 staff undertook initial preparation and construction work. This work included access roads and roundabouts for increased construction traffic, park and ride schemes for the site workers, and a new roundabout for the village of Cannington . Further plans include the construction of
512-499: A final investment decision on the project, disclosing that the financial agreement with CGN was yet to be confirmed. EDF, which had recently reported a 68% fall in net profit, was still looking at how it would finance its share of the project. With EDF's share price having halved over the preceding year, the cost of the Hinkley Point C project now exceeded the entire market capitalisation of EDF. EDF stated that "first concrete",
576-557: A full range of reactor services. It is responsible for Flamanville 3 , Taishan 1 and 2 , and Hinkley Point C projects. In addition, Framatome conducts preliminary study for construction of six reactors at the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Framatome provides EPR reactors , which is a third generation pressurised water reactor (PWR) design, and Kerena reactors , which
640-596: A larger series of mergers with Cogema and Technicatome, Framatome became the Areva NP division of the new Areva . It changed its name back to Framatome in 2018 after a major investment by utility operator EDF . While originally a licensing and construction business, today Framatome supplies the entire reactor life-cycle, including design of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), construction, fuel management and many related tasks. Framatome
704-524: A nuclear site licence was granted. On 28 July 2016, the EDF board approved the project, and on 15 September 2016 the UK government approved the project with some safeguards for the investment. The project is financed by EDF Energy and China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). The final cost was to be £18 billion in 2015 prices. When construction began in March 2017 completion was expected in 2025. Since then
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#1732779632503768-412: A sea wall and a jetty for ships to deliver sand, aggregate and cement for concrete production. In 2015, the factory site was razed to the ground for construction of temporary accommodation for 1,000 workers. Since 2016, the construction site for Hinkley Point C has had its own bus company, Somerset Passenger Solutions (SPS), a joint venture between FirstGroup 's The Buses of Somerset division and
832-405: A serious setback when the corporation lost over one billion dollars due to bad high-risk, high-fee, high-interest loans made by its Westinghouse Credit Corporation lending arm. In an attempt to revitalize the corporation, the board of directors appointed outside management in the form of CEO Michael H. Jordan , who brought in numerous consultants to help re-engineer the company in order to realize
896-642: A subsidiary of Metropolitan-Vickers in 1919 and the Italian Westinghouse factory was taken over by Tecnomasio in 1921. Hinkley Point C Hinkley Point C nuclear power station ( HPC ) is a two-unit, 3,200 MWe EPR nuclear power station under construction in Somerset , England. The site was one of eight announced by the British government in 2010, and in November 2012
960-619: Is 1,250 MWe Generation III+ boiling water reactor (BWR) design, provisionally known as SWR-1000 . The Kerena design was developed from that of the Gundremmingen Nuclear Power Plant by Areva, with extensive German input and using operating experience from Generation II BWRs to simplify systems engineering. In 2016, following a discovery at Flamanville 3, about 400 large steel forgings manufactured by Framatome's Le Creusot Forge operation since 1965 were found to have carbon-content irregularities that weakened
1024-596: Is nearly unavoidable. The Statement of the Commission in its first findings of 18 December 2013, is too clear. I do not think that some conditions could change that clear result." Though given that, ten months later the European Commission approved the financing. In March 2014, the Court of Appeal allowed An Taisce , the National Trust for Ireland, to challenge the legality of the decision by
1088-579: The European Commission opened an investigation to assess whether the project complies with state aid rules with reports suggesting the UK government's plan may well constitute illegal state aid. Joaquín Almunia , the EU Competition Commissioner , referred to the plans as "a complex measure of an unprecedented nature and scale" and said that the European Commission is "not under any legal time pressure to complete
1152-561: The National Audit Office to conduct a detailed review of the negotiations between the Department of Energy and Climate Change and EDF. In October 2013, the government announced that it had agreed a contract for difference for the electricity production of Hinkley Point C with a strike price of £89.50 per MWh , with the plant expected to be completed in 2023 and remain operational for 60 years. In December 2013,
1216-455: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to grant development consent. An Taisce lawyers say there was a failure to undertake "transboundary consultation" as required by the European Commission's Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. Lord Justice Sullivan said that though "he did not venture that it had a real prospect of success, it was desirable that the court should give
1280-614: The Southern National bus company. SPS hold a contract to transport construction workers on a number of routes to, from and around the Hinkley Point C site until 2025, using up to 160 buses at the peak of construction. In September 2016, the BBC reported that if construction were to start now, the plant could become operational by 2025. In March 2017, EDF , after the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) gave approval to start building,
1344-699: The Alliance against Hinkley C was renamed to the Stop Hinkley Expansion Campaign (SHE). The organisation was funded by Greenpeace , and headed by activist Danielle Grünberg and journalist Crispin Aubrey. SHE as one of the major opponents, spent over £50,000 on their campaign to halt construction of Hinkley C. Members participated in the 14-month long public inquiry, which ran from the end of 1988 through December 1989, and heard from over 600 witnesses. 22,000 people lodged opposition to
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#17327796325031408-655: The Government to pull back without huge loss and while also saving face', that Beijing 'will resist any compromise on the deal', and that one option under consideration is to approve Hinkley Point C but delay a decision on the Bradwell reactor. In September 2016, the UK government announced after its review "significant new safeguards". In February 2017, the UN , under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in
1472-471: The UK authorities have led to an agreement. On this basis, vice-president Almunia will propose to the college of commissioners to take a positive decision in this case. In principle a decision should be taken within this mandate" with a final decision expected in October 2014. On 8 October 2014, it was announced that the European Commission had approved the project, with only four commissioners voting against
1536-565: The UK risked major power shortages by 2025, the Hinkley Point C project is ready to go ahead, the 'UK could not have a better partner than the China General Nuclear Power Corporation', and 'the China-UK relationship is at a crucial historical juncture'. In August 2016, it was reported that 'civil servants are looking to see if there is any loophole, clause or issue in contracts yet to be signed that allow
1600-879: The Westinghouse trademarks were granted to the newly formed BNFL subsidiary, Westinghouse Electric Company . That company was sold to Toshiba in 2006. During the 20th century, Westinghouse engineers and scientists were granted more than 28,000 U.S. patents, the third most of any company. There have been a number of Westinghouse-related environmental incidents in the US. Below is a short list of these. All of these are chemical pollution incidents; none of them involve nuclear reactors or nuclear pollution. Westinghouse established subsidiary companies in several countries including British Westinghouse and Società Italiana Westinghouse in Vado Ligure , Italy. British Westinghouse became
1664-655: The advancement of AC technology in Europe, the firm became active in developing alternating current (AC) electric infrastructure throughout the United States. The company's largest factories were located in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , Lester, Pennsylvania and Hamilton, Ontario, where they made turbines , generators, motors, and switch gear for the generation, transmission, and use of electricity. In addition to George Westinghouse, early engineers working for
1728-582: The base for the first reactor, the final 8,954 cubic metres (316,200 cu ft) of concrete, was achieved in June 2019. Completion of the base for the second reactor, 8,991 cubic metres (317,500 cu ft) of concrete, was achieved in June 2020. Construction utilises the world's largest crane, the Sarens SGC-250 double ring crane , which is responsible for lifting Hinkley Point C's heaviest components. More than 600 heavy fabrications, including
1792-489: The building of the first parts of the plant proper began with a network of tunnels to carry cabling and piping. Work was also under way on a jetty to land building materials, a seawall, and accommodation blocks. In January 2018, EDF said that they were on track to start generating electricity by 2025 and that they planned to start constructing above-ground structures for the power station by June 2019. The approximate 2,000 cubic metres (71,000 cu ft) concrete pour for
1856-835: The company included Frank Conrad , Benjamin Garver Lamme , Bertha Lamme (first woman mechanical engineer in the United States), Oliver B. Shallenberger , William Stanley , Nikola Tesla , Stephen Timoshenko , and Vladimir Zworykin . Early on, Westinghouse was a rival to Thomas Edison 's electric company. In 1892, Edison was merged with Westinghouse's chief AC rival, the Thomson-Houston Electric Company , making an even bigger competitor, General Electric . Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company changed its name to Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1945. In 1990, Westinghouse experienced
1920-562: The construction of Hinkley C. Despite the public outcry, Queen's Counsel Michael Barnes, who conducted the hearings, recommended building the plant in 1990, but said any construction would be delayed until the review of Britain's Nuclear Policy in 1994. SHE continued to oppose the project and advocated for resources to be spent instead on wind and wave power systems. In 1995, plans were abandoned to construct Hinkley C or any other new nuclear power plants in Britain. In January 2008
1984-547: The construction of Sizewell B in Suffolk. In March 2013, three environmental permits setting levels for emissions from the proposed power station were granted and planning consent was given, but agreement on electricity pricing was still required before building could start. Through 2013, the operator was in negotiations with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and other government agencies. A major sticking point
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2048-479: The cost was £31–32 billion in 2023 prices, Unit 1 had a start date of June 2027 and a risk of 15 months further delay. In January 2024, EDF announced that it estimated that the final cost would be £31–35 billion (2015 prices, excluding interim interest), £41.6–47.9 billion in 2024 prices, with Unit 1 becoming operational in 2029-2031. In 1981, the UK government announced plans to expand its nuclear power stations and
2112-500: The decision. The European Commission adjusted the "gain-share mechanism" whereby higher profits are shared with UK taxpayers. In June 2015, the Austrian government filed a legal complaint with the European Commission on the subject of the state subsidies. In September 2020, the court confirmed the aid approved by the commission. In September 2015, EDF admitted that the project would not be completed by 2023, with an announcement on
2176-715: The development of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR). In 2001, after a merger with Cogema (now Orano ) and Technicatome, a new nuclear conglomerate called Areva was formed, and Framatome became Areva NP. In 2007, Areva and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries created a joint venture named Atmea , for marketing the ATMEA1 reactor design. In 2009, Areva NP acquired 30% stake in the Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel company. In 2009, Siemens sold its remaining shares in Areva NP. In 2018, after restructuring of Areva, Areva NP
2240-493: The disused Hinkley Point A and the then still operational Hinkley Point B power stations – was one of the eight sites it considered suitable for future nuclear power stations. NNB Generation Company , a subsidiary of EDF, submitted an application for a Development Consent Order to the Infrastructure Planning Commission on 31 October 2011. In February 2013, Centrica withdrew from
2304-507: The fifteen months estimated delay cost, with a start date of between 2025 and 2027. In January 2021, the estimated construction cost was revised to £22–23 billion (2015 prices), with expected start date of June 2026. In May 2022, another year of delay and further cost rises were announced, bringing the total to an estimated £25–26 billion (2015 prices), although "the schedule and cost of electromechanical works and of final testing have not been reviewed". In July 2022, EDF warned there
2368-514: The final investment decision expected in October 2015. Earlier plans to announce Areva and 'other investors' were dropped: "in order to have speed, in the first phase EDF and the Chinese will be the investors". A report by the IEA and NEA suggests privatization as one of the causes for British nuclear power being more expensive than nuclear power in other countries. In February 2016, EDF again delayed
2432-491: The final investment decision. Gérard Magnin , a director of EDF who was opposed to the project, resigned before the vote. On the same day, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark announced that the government would delay its decision until the autumn of 2016 to "consider carefully all the component parts of this project", including Britain's national security . On 8 August 2016, Liu Xiaoming , China's ambassador to Britain, wrote that
2496-400: The first of the 520 tonne steam generators was delivered to site in the same manner as the reactor pressure vessel. In November 2012, it was announced that the UK's ONR had awarded a nuclear site licence to NNB Generation Company , a subsidiary created by EDF Energy . This was the first nuclear site licence awarded for a nuclear power station in the UK since 1987, when one was granted for
2560-431: The first reactor started on 11 December 2018. It was completed over a 30-hour period, creating the first part of the unit one 4,500 tonne base, a platform 3.2 metres (10 ft 6 in) thick. The reactor building will be built on the (to be completed) platform. This construction start marks the first new reactor build in the UK after a 30-year break, and the second PWR in the UK, after Sizewell B . Completion of
2624-572: The five major parts of each unit's steel containment liner and dome, are positioned by the SGC-250. The crane, named Big Carl , was delivered in modular form, consisting of over 400 deliveries. In February 2023, the first nuclear reactor pressure vessel was delivered to site via the Bristol Channel Hinkley-dedicated wharf at Combwich . The pressure vessel was built in France in 2022 by Framatome . In May 2024
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2688-412: The group Alliance against Hinkley C was founded to oppose construction of another plant at Hinkley Point. The following August it was confirmed that the intent was to build Hinkley C. The Alliance against Hinkley C began publishing a newsletter pressing for the government to focus instead on the development of renewable energy systems and alerting the public to the harm to the environment. In 1986,
2752-538: The investigation". In January 2014, an initial critical decision was published, indicating that the UK government's plan may well constitute illegal state aid, requiring a formal state aid investigation examining the subsidies. David Howarth , a former Liberal Democrat MP, doubted "whether this is a valid contract at all" under EU and English law. Franz Leidenmühler ( University of Linz , a specialist in EU state aid cases and European competition law ), wrote that "a rejection
2816-510: The liquidation of their credit operations. In 1995, in a major change of direction, the company acquired the CBS television network and renamed itself CBS Corporation . Most of its remaining industrial businesses were sold off at this time. CBS Corp was acquired by Viacom in 1999, a merger completed in April 2000. The CBS Corporation name was later reused for one of the two companies resulting from
2880-493: The new nuclear construction programme, citing building costs that were higher than it had anticipated and a longer construction timescale caused by modifications added after the Fukushima disaster . The Development Consent Order was published in March 2013. That same month, a group of MPs and academics, concerned that the 'talks lack the necessary democratic accountability, fiscal and regulatory checks and balances', called for
2944-462: The new owners of Hinkley Point B , announced plans to build a third, twin-unit EPR power station at Hinkley Point , to join Hinkley Point A ( Magnox ), which is now closed and being decommissioned, and the Hinkley Point B ( AGR ), which has a closure date for accounting purposes of 2023. On 18 October 2010, the British government announced that Hinkley Point – already the site of
3008-530: The parent companies. The original mission of the company was to act as a nuclear engineering firm and to develop a nuclear power plant that was to be identical to Westinghouse's existing product specifications. The first European plant of Westinghouse design was by then already under construction in Italy. A formal contract was signed in September 1961 for Framatome to deliver a turnkey system, that is, not only
3072-401: The plant will meet about 7% of the UK's electricity needs. In 2013, Welsh ministers granted permission for EDF to dispose of construction sediment off Cardiff Bay. EDF have said the work 'is not harmful to humans or the environment' but marine pollution expert Tim Deere Jones claims the mud 'could expose people to radioactivity'. In October 2013, the government announced that it had approved
3136-570: The potential that they saw in the broadcasting industry. Westinghouse reduced the workforce in many of its traditional industrial operations and made further acquisitions in broadcasting to add to its already substantial Group W network, including Infinity Broadcasting , TNN , CMT , American Radio Systems , and rights to NFL broadcasting. These investments cost the company over fifteen billion dollars. To recoup its costs, Westinghouse sold many other operations, including its defense electronics division, its metering and load control division (which
3200-477: The project has been subject to several delays, including some caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , and Brexit , and this has resulted in significant budget overruns. As of May 2022 , the project was two years late and the expected cost stood at £25–26 billion (2015 prices, excluding interim interest), 50% more than the original budget from 2016. In EDF's 2022 annual results published on 17 February 2023,
3264-576: The reactor, but an entire, ready-to-use system of piping, cabling, supports, and other auxiliary systems, propelling Framatome from a nuclear engineering firm to an industrial contractor. In January 1976, Westinghouse agreed to sell its remaining 15% share to Creusot-Loire , which now owned 66%, and to cede complete marketing independence to Framatome. In February, the Belgian Édouard-Jean Empain sold his 35% interest in Creusot-Loire to Paribas ,
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#17327796325033328-552: The split of Viacom in 2005. One of the few remaining original lines of business to survive this process was the nuclear power division, which was sold to BNFL in 1999 and re-formed as Westinghouse Electric Company . The Westinghouse trademarks are owned by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, and were previously part of Westinghouse Licensing Corporation . Westinghouse Electric was founded by George Westinghouse in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , on January 8, 1886. Building on
3392-428: The start of actual construction, was not planned to begin until 2019. In June 2016, EDF executives and managers told MPs that the Hinkley Point C proposal should be postponed until it had "solved a litany of problems", including EDF's "soaring debts". EDF said it would delay a final investment decision until September 2016. On 28 July 2016, the EDF board approved the project when 10 out of 17 directors voted yes on
3456-493: The steel. A widespread programme of French reactor checks was started involving a progressive programme of reactor shutdowns, continued over the winter high electricity demand period into 2017. In December 2016 the Wall Street Journal characterised the problem as a "decades long coverup of manufacturing problems", with Framatome executives acknowledging that Le Creusot had been falsifying documents. Le Creusot Forge
3520-700: Was 85% owned by the French state, purchased British Energy for £12.4 billion in a deal that was finalised in February 2009, with the nuclear generation business becoming part of EDF Energy . This deal was part of a joint venture with UK utility Centrica , who acquired a 20% stake in EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd as well as the option to participate in EDF Energy's UK new nuclear build programme. In September 2008, EDF,
3584-447: Was a demand by EDF Energy for a guaranteed price for the electricity to be produced, which was about twice the current UK electricity rates. The project is part of the UK's plans to implement a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by the mid-2020s, which provides for building Hinkley Point C and several other nuclear power plants. By 2013, the operator had invested about £1 billion in site preparation and other start-up costs. If built,
3648-436: Was a possibility of further delay to September 2028. On 13 September 2022, a construction worker was killed on site, in a crush injury traffic accident. In January 2024, EDF presented three scenarios for the works, including when Unit 1 would become operational; with planned installation productivity a 2029 start costing £31 billion (2015 prices, £41.6 billion in 2024 prices), with less favourable installation productivity
3712-486: Was also a major player in the field of nuclear power , starting with the Westinghouse Atom Smasher in 1937. A series of downturns and management missteps in the 1970s and 80s combined with large cash balances led the company to enter the financial services business. Their focus was on mortgages , which suffered significant losses in the late 1980s. In 1992 they announced a major restructuring and
3776-594: Was founded in 1958 by several companies of the French industrial giant Schneider Group along with Empain , Merlin Gérin , and the American Westinghouse , in order to license Westinghouse's pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology and develop a bid for Chooz A (in France). Called Franco-Américaine de Constructions Atomiques (Framatome), the original company consisted of four engineers, one from each of
3840-442: Was originally named "Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company" and was renamed "Westinghouse Electric Corporation" in 1945. Through the early and mid-20th century, Westinghouse Electric was a powerhouse in heavy industry, electrical production and distribution, consumer electronics, home appliances and a wide variety of other products. They were a major supplier of generators and steam turbines for most of their history, and
3904-588: Was out of operation from December 2015 to January 2018 while improvements to process controls, the quality management system, organisation and safety culture were made. In 2020 Framatome won an order to deliver reactor protection systems for the Russian VVER-TOI design nuclear reactors at Kursk II . Westinghouse Electric (1886) The Westinghouse Electric Corporation was an American manufacturing company founded in 1886 by George Westinghouse and headquartered in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania. It
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#17327796325033968-510: Was so low that it could be ruled out even applying the stricter Waddenzee approach' The UN , under the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context , ordered the Department for Communities and Local Government to send a delegation to face the committee in December 2014, on the "profound suspicion" that the UK failed to properly consult neighbouring countries. In September 2014, news leaked that "discussions with
4032-711: Was sold to ABB ), its residential security division, the office furniture company Knoll , and Thermo King . Westinghouse purchased CBS Inc. in 1994 for $ 5.4 billion. Westinghouse Electric Corporation changed its name to and became the original CBS Corporation in 1997. Also in 1997, the Power Generation Business Unit, headquartered in Orlando, Florida , was sold to Siemens AG of Germany. A year later, CBS sold all of its commercial nuclear power businesses to British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL). In connection with that sale, certain rights to use
4096-508: Was sold to Électricité de France . Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (19.5%), and Assystem (5%) also became shareholders. As a result of the restructuring, Électricité de France and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries became equal shareholders of Atmea with 50% of shares both while Framatome owns a special share in Atmea. Framatome designs, manufactures, and installs components, fuel and instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants and offers
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