Amec Foster Wheeler signs MoU with Chinese nuclear plant builder

Amec Foster Wheeler, the engineering consultancy with operations across the North West, has signed a new agreement with China Nuclear Engineering & Construction (Group) Corporation (CNEC).

The firm, which employs more than 1,400 people across the region, secured a memorandum of understanding with the Beijing-based nuclear plant builder that could see the two firms working collaboratively on nuclear industry projects.

Signed in Beijing as part of a trade visit organised by UK Trade & Investment alongside the China-Britain Business Council, the agreement will see Amec Foster Wheeler commit to working with CNEC to explore opportunities in nuclear power construction, operation and decommissioning projects around the world.

CNEC is also expected to utilise Amec Foster Wheeler’s new UK-based High-Temperature Facility for research and testing purposes.

The vice president of Amec Foster Wheeler’s Clean Energy business, Tom Jones, said: “High-temperature reactors have great potential to provide safe, clean and sustainable energy for the future.

“We hope that our collaboration with CNEC will help the UK and China to realise the potential benefits of this tremendously important technology.“

CNEC’s vice president, Zu Bin, commented: “The high-temperature gas cooled reactor is inherently safe and can generate electricity efficiently and competitively for power generation, heat supply and desalination.“

Amec Foster Wheeler’s Clean Energy arm operates sites in Birchwood and Knutsford, Cheshire, as well as Sellafield and Barrow in Cumbria

Last month, the engineering giant landed a new contract with the US Army worth £130m.