21 June 2023
With IDOM and VUJE as partners, Assystem is leading NUCEAL (NUClear Engineering Alliance), a new incorporated joint-venture of nuclear engineering companies to support the development of EDF’s projects in the European Union. The launch of the JV took place in Lyon, France, in the presence of Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France Minister for Energy Transition.
NUCEAL proposes to accompany EDF on European projects, on the various technologies that EDF proposes to its customers: EPR2, EPR 1200 or Nuward.
With over 12.000 experts in the EU, and with a strong knowledge of nuclear throughout the EU, NUCEAL has the key skills and the teams organised in all the geographical areas concerned and will be able to put its global and local expertise at the service of EDF.
NUCEAL’s aim is to support the numerous nuclear programs developed or to be developed by EDF in the EU. Support to the EDF’s UK programs will also be considered.
EDF is developing large nuclear power plant projects, in France, in the UK and possibly in other European countries including Poland, Czech Republic or Netherlands, among others. The delivery of these programs will require strong engineering support in each country to secure the resources and expertise to build nuclear power at the pace and scale required. For the development of its NUWARD SMR which is encountering growing interest from certain countries, EDF will require a European supply chain to ensure local integration as well as management of the regulatory requirements specific to each country.
Each company brings its own specialism to the Joint Venture. Assystem has been delivering nuclear programmes for more than 55 years and has supported the design, construction, and commissioning of power plants in France, the UK, Türkiye, Finland, China and the UAE. Its offer in digital for complex projects is well developed and is already delivering efficiencies on nuclear power programmes today. IDOM also has strong capabilities and experience in the whole nuclear power lifecycle and electricity generation, among others, developing projects in 125 countries (32 in nuclear sector) during last 65 years. VUJE brings an experienced team of technical experts with experience of developing nuclear power in Central and Eastern Europe and capability in transmission and distribution engineering.
Assystem represents a 60% share of the JV, with IDOM and VUJE taking a 20% share, respectively.
Thomas Branche, Assystem’s Senior Vice President for Engineering said: “One of the success conditions of the numerous nuclear projects EDF has in Europe is the availability of a strong European supply chain. The creation of NUCEAL is an important milestone for the successful delivery of these programs and the acceleration of energy transition. With this JV we present a strong engineering alliance to our client helping them to mobilise quickly and offer reassurance to newcomer countries that they will have industry leading engineering partners to deliver their nuclear power plants on time and within budget.”
“IDOM is delighted to participate in this European Alliance,” said Oscar Larrosa, Managing Director Nuclear Services at IDOM. “It is a pleasure to work jointly with key and widely recognized members of the nuclear industry, to face the current global energy challenge by deploying nuclear technology in Europe and contribute to decarbonize the future economy in a safe and clean manner. IDOM is glad to support the Engineering Alliance with its capabilities and know-how acquired from the vast project portfolio delivered worldwide
“We are proud to become a part of the European solution for the implementation of SMRs and advanced nuclear technologies. This JV shall enable us to take advantage of our experience in the field of new nuclear sources completion and commissioning. Our common ambition is to become a significant provider of engineering and especially nuclear safety services for newly built NPPs” said Andrej Ziarovsky, Director for Development and International Operations of VUJE.
ABOUT ASSYSTEM
Assystem, one of the world's leading independent nuclear engineering companies, is committed to accelerating the energy transition. With more than 55 years of experience in highly regulated sectors with stringent safety and security constraints, the Group provides engineering services as well as digital solutions and services to optimise the performance of complex infrastructure assets throughout their life cycle.
In its 12 countries of operation, Assystem’s 6,500 experts are supporting energy transition. To achieve an affordable low carbon energy supply, Assystem is committed to the development of low carbon electricity (nuclear, renewables and electricity grids) and clean hydrogen. The Group is also helping drive the use of low carbon electricity in industrial sectors such as transportation.
Assystem is currently ranked in the top three nuclear engineering companies in the world.
ABOUT IDOM
IDOM is an employee-owned, independent firm developing projects in over 125 countries with more than 5,000 professionals. IDOM is participating in some of the most advanced and innovative projects in the world in the fields of power generation, infrastructure, architecture, consulting and nuclear services, providing clear added value to their clients.
Specifically, IDOM Nuclear Services (NS) is present in more than 32 countries, working along the entire nuclear energy and research life cycle. IDOM is participating not just in fission projects, but also fusion projects such as ITER, as well as research reactor and nuclear medicine projects.
The professional services offered by IDOM NS cover most of the technological and industrial engineering activities associated with a nuclear facility, from initial site studies, basic and conceptual engineering to detailed design, construction and decommissioning.
For more information, please visit www.idom.com.
ABOUT VUJE
VUJE is a private joint-stock company acting on the nuclear market for more than 46 years. Historically known as the Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute, since 1977, VUJE has been the cornerstone of adoption, construction and development of nuclear power generation in Central and Eastern Europe.
More than one thousand skilled experts of the group, two thirds of whom have university education/academic background, provide R&D and engineering services, as well as implement comprehensive projects in the form of turnkey deliveries from initial documentation to final testing. VUJE is a respected and recognized authority with a number of proven international achievements.
VUJE is a market leader in the field of nuclear safety and engineering, as well as construction and diagnostics of the extra-high-voltage transmission and distribution systems.
For more information, please visit www.vuje.sk
From left to right:
Matej Korec, General Director of VUJE
Stéphane Aubarbier, Deputy CEO of Assystem
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Energy Transition
Xabier Ruiz, COO of IDOM
Xavier Ursat, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice-President