The US subsidiary of French nuclear technology company Areva has won a contract from Pacific Gas & Electric Co for two replacement reactor vessel heads at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant Units One and Two.

The contract includes the manufacture, delivery and installation of the reactor vessel heads, control rod drive mechanisms, integrated head assemblies, and installation and disposal of used equipment for both units at the Diablo Canyon site in Avila Beach, California.

Installation for Unit 2 is scheduled to begin in autumn 2009 and Unit 1 in autumn 2010.

Jack Keenan, chief nuclear officer at Pacific Gas & Electric said: “The replacement Reactor Vessel Closure Head (RVCH) project is particularly exciting because we are working with Areva to fabricate RVCHs in the United States for the first time in many years.”

Commercial terms were not disclosed.


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