EDF Energy is to host a supply chain event next week in a bid to get local businesses supporting and participating in its plans for a new nuclear power station at Sizewell.

EDF Energy wants to build four new EPR reactors in the UK by 2025 and the procurement for EDF’s new build programme is under way and is expected to lead to the tendering of about 150 contracts worth many billions of pounds.

During the construction period of Sizewell B, the most recent nuclear reactor to be built in the UK, more than 3,000 UK firms were involved, with 690 from East Anglia.

The aim of the supply chain event next Thursday (July 8) is to ensure that businesses local to Sizewell are aware of the opportunities that EDF Energy’s investment plans will create.

EDF head of procurement Alan Cumming said: “Our project creates an opportunity to reinvigorate the expertise and capability in the UK. This is a long-term project and the opportunities are likely to be equally long term for those companies who take advantage of them.

“Working on a nuclear site requires particular levels of expertise, competency and quality control. Even for companies supplying non-nuclear equipment or skills, the fact that they are working on a nuclear site means special arrangements apply.”

Cumming added: “These skills and competencies already exist in the UK but the object of our supplier’s forums is to help local companies better understand the necessary standards involved.”

EDF Energy intends to start its local public consultations for Sizewell C this winter.

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