New nuclear power stations to create 100,000 construction jobs

Britain’s new nuclear power stations will be a huge contributor to job creation over the next few years. That’s the upbeat assessment by Areva – the world’s biggest reactor maker – who has claimed that over 100,000 jobs will be created as a result of the nuclear programme.

The Daily Mail reports that the French company, which is currently building four reactors for EDF, predicts that British companies will be responsible for 80 per cent of the work.

Each plant will create over 20,000 construction jobs

The rector builder believes that each nuclear plant will create 20,000 construction jobs over six years. Half of these will be directly linked to the power station and half will be created indirectly.

Areva will be responsible for creating 40,000 of the jobs, a number which it will be able to increase to 100,000 if it wins a contract to build two further power stations. One plant is for Horizon Nuclear, a joint venture between German energy giants E.ON and RWE whilst the other plant is for NuGeneration, a joint venture between Spain's Iberdrola, Southern Energy and GDF Suez of France.

Plants will create thousands of construction jobs whoever is successful

The Daily Mail reports that ‘even if Areva does not win, it is likely that rival Westinghouse will have to create a similar number of jobs.’ And, in addition, some of the most sophisticated nuclear components will be supplied by Areva and its new British partner, Rolls-Royce.

The French company hopes that around 80 per cent of the manufacturing work will be carried out by British firms, earmarking 60 companies in the UK for most of the work. In addition, they expect 90 per cent of the construction jobs to be created in British firms.

Areva's other partner, Siemens UK, has already approached 150 companies to help build the power stations.