The first five of 156 tanks have been installed at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, under construction in Somerset.
The milestone marks the start of physical works being delivered by the MEH Alliance of Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear and Doosan Babcock. The MEH Alliance has a £986m contract with EDF Energy to deliver the mechanical, electrical, heating and ventilation works for the Hinkley Point C project.
The walled-in are designed to contain, store, distribute and prepare various fluids in support of reactor operations. A further 24 tanks are expected to be installed in 2020, the MEH Alliance said.
“This work is being delivered safely and in line with social distancing and other protective measures, to ensure the continued health, safety and wellbeing of all those who work with and for us, as well as the general public,” commented Gavin Schlechter, Walled in Plant Construction Lead for the MEH Alliance.
The alliance also said that installation of the third tank “provided a valuable opportunity to test and demonstrate the welding capability, which exists in the UK and which meets the required nuclear standards.”
Welding capability is a critical enabler to delivering the Hinkley Point C project, a statement said. This is being reinforced through the work EDF, supported by the MEH Alliance, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), the Weldability SiF Foundation and South West Institute of Technology and Bridgwater & Taunton College, are undertaking to develop a new welding centre in Bridgwater.
The centre hopes to train and qualify 350-500 welders a year, benefitting people and industries across the South-West England.
Photo: The MEH Alliance of Altrad, Balfour Beatty Bailey, Cavendish Nuclear and Doosan Babcock is delivering the mechanical, electrical, heating and ventilation works for Hinkley Point C. (Credit: MEH Alliance)
