All systems go for UK nuclear roll-out

The UK construction industry has the capacity to deliver the roll-out of nuclear reactors across the country, despite fears of a resource meltdown.

That is the conclusion of the Nuclear Industry Association's (NIA) report: The UK capability to deliver a new nuclear build programme. The report, which examined the impacts on the construction industry of delivering a new-build programme, dispels the myth that the industry would struggle to deliver a new-build programme at the same time as delivering the 2012 Olympics.

The report comes in preparation for the findings of the government's Energy White Paper, due out in March. In tandem with the report, the government is also looking at ways to streamline the planning system to reduce the time taken to deliver a reactor from five years to between three and four years.

"The report shows that the UK construction industry has the capacity to deliver the new-build programme," said Bill Bryce, consultant at Doosan Babcock and the chair of the NIA's new-build working group. "What the industry now needs is the confidence to get geared up to deliver the programme. Utility firms and the banks are already waiting for the green light to get the ball rolling."

The report found that:

• Much of the heavy construction works required are already being used on projects.
• The UK nuclear supply chain could supply more than 70% of a new nuclear plant. This rises to 80% with investment in resources and facilities.
• Civil engineering resources to build a new reactor would represent only 2% to 3% of the national capability. For mechanical and electrical, it's 4% to 5%.
• To deliver a programme of 10 reactors across five sites, with construction starting at 18-month intervals, only a small proportion of materials (1% of cement, 4% of structural steel) will be required. The demand on human resources in construction would be between 2% and 3%.
• The cladding market has plenty of capacity, with nuclear taking only a 1% share of output.
• Each new reactor will require 50,000t of structural steel. The report adds: "If the UK market remains reasonably stable then the necessary skilled workforce will be available."
• Each reactor will require 60,000t of steel reinforcement bars. "Both manufacturers [Alpha Steel and Selsa] have spare capacity," said the report.