by Katherine Berezowskyj

After breaking ground in July, the AREVA Newport News facility continues to develop in Virginia where AREVA and joint-venture partners Northrop Grumman are building a heavy component manufacturing facility. In the latest construction progress a new contract was announced today with CH2M Hill who will provide engineering, procurement and construction management services for AREVA Newport News.

This $360 million facility will manufacture heavy components, including reactor vessels, pressurizers, and steam generators, which are all critical pieces for new US EPR™ reactors. With an expected completion date of January 2012, the 330,000 square-foot facility will create more than 500 permanent jobs for Virginia.

What this means for the revival of nuclear energy in the United States was pointed out by AREVA NP Inc. President and CEO Mike Rencheck who said that “the construction of the AREVA Newport News manufacturing facility is evidence of the U.S. nuclear resurgence and AREVA’s leading role in increasing the generation of safe, clean, affordable electricity for America.”

Check out the AREVA US website for more information on AREVA Newport News.

by Katherine Berezowskyj

And you thought all historical landmarks had to be old and falling apart…well this is certainly not true of AREVA’s Chalon/Saint-Marcel plant. It is an advanced facility that manufactures the heavy components in nuclear power plants. Nonetheless, Chalon/Saint-Marcel did just receive the American Nuclear Society’s (ANS) Nuclear Historic Landmark Award which recognizes sites that have greatly contributed to the development of nuclear energy and implementation of advanced industrial technology.

The Chalon/Saint-Marcel facility received this recognition because it’s a world leader in the manufacturing of heavy reactor components─ reactor vessel, vessel head, steam generator, and pressurizer─ and because it’s a critical piece to AREVA’s integrated model for providing a complete solution for nuclear power generation to our customers. The facility was commissioned in 1975 and has produced more than 500 components, all of which have met the high quality standards for nuclear power stations. In addition to the constant modernization of equipment and continuous work in R&D, Chalon/Saint-Marcel has seen some major investment since 2006, ensuring that the facility remains top-of-the-line.

With the success that AREVA has seen in the production of heavy components here, we are using it as a model for our plans in Virginia. Based on of the Chalon/Saint Marcel facility, we are building AREVA Newport News, a $363 million heavy component manufacturing facility, primarily for U.S. EPR™ reactors. It is a joint venture between AREVA and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding that broke ground at the end of July and will employ more than 500 people when finished.

We have more information on AREVA Newport News here.

By Katherine Berezowskyj

Yesterday the United States actually saw a clear step in the nuclear energy renaissance as AREVA and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding put shovels in the ground. The two leaders in the nuclear industry broke ground on what will be a 330,000 square-foot heavy components manufacturing facility in Newport News, Va.

AREVA Newport News LLC is the joint venture that the two companies formed last October to build this facility that will manufacture the heavy components for nuclear power plants. It’s the first heavy component manufacturing facility built in the U.S. in 35 years. These heavy components will be the “guts” of future AREVA U.S. EPR™ reactors as well as other EPR™ projects linking the supply chain all over the world.

“This is a significant and concrete step in the revival of the U.S. nuclear energy sector,” said Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of AREVA. “The path of certainty for the deployment of the EPR reactor in the United States goes through Viriginia.”

The project represent a commitment to the state as well as the industry. It will bring an investment of more than $360 million and 500 skilled jobs to Virginia—one that will provide green energy jobs and keep the regional economy strong.

The mayor of Newport News, Joe Frank, and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine were there to celebrate this great occasion for industry and energy in the region. Governor Kaine said, “AREVA Newport News and Virginia have launched a powerful partnership built on our shared goals of promoting green energy and energy efficiency.”

When AREVA Newport News comes online—expected in 2012—it will produce the critical EPR™ heavy components, including reactor vessels, steam generators, and pressurizers. As the AREVA EPR™ is the only Generation III+ reactor currently under construction today, the components represent a critical supply for meeting future, growing, and clean energy needs-particularly in the U.S.

To watch the webcast of yesterday’s groundbreaking, click here

AREVA Newport News

by Jarret Adams

AREVA has unveiled plans to further increase its production capacity at its Chalon/Saint-Marcel manufacturing facility in eastern France, to keep pace with its strong international growth.

During the coming years, the group will invest €35 million ($47 million) in the plant, which will enable it to produce the heavy components for the equivalent of 2.7 EPR™ reactors per year, from its current capacity of around 1.7 EPR reactors.

The Chalon/Saint Marcel plant is the model on which AREVA Newport News, an AREVA and Northrop Grumman joint venture, will be based. The construction of the 300,000-square-foot facility will begin this summer with completion anticipated in early 2012. The facility represents a $360 million investment and will create about 500 new jobs.

AREVA’s investments in Chalon/Saint Marcel and AREVA Newport News is powerful evidence of the reality of the nuclear power resurgence and the company’s commitment to it.