Framatome, Bureau Veritas and Doosan Babcock create EQUALLE™, an alliance to provide nuclear Equipment Qualification services in the United Kingdom

On February 13th, 2018, Framatome, Bureau Veritas and Doosan Babcock signed an Agreement creating EQUALLE™, an alliance targeted at supporting the challenge of nuclear Equipment Qualification for the benefit of new build projects and in-service reactors in the United Kingdom.

The qualification of nuclear safety equipment ensures its operability in normal and accidental conditions in compliance with the safety case.

The ambition of EQUALLE™ is to contribute to nuclear safety while reducing risks, costs and securing project schedules. Qualifying nuclear equipment involves calculation, analysis and stringent physical testing competencies and technologies and is often underestimated.

The EQUALLE™ members, by joining their complementary skills, experience and global yet local footprint, aim to support the nuclear industry with expertise and technologies to execute appropriate nuclear qualification in an optimised way.

Thomas Epron, VP Global Sales, Framatome’s Installed Base Business Unit, declares “Framatome has recognised engineering competencies and unique test facilities in the field of nuclear equipment qualification. Through its experience gained on New Build projects worldwide, Framatome has developed an unparalleled know-how and expertise in that area. With the Hinkley Point C project and together with our EQUALLE™ partners, Framatome will strongly contribute to the success of nuclear projects in the United Kingdom”.

Framatome is a major international player in the nuclear energy market recognized for its innovative solutions and value-added technologies for designing, building, maintaining, and advancing the global nuclear fleet. The company designs, manufactures, and installs components and fuel for nuclear power plants and offers a full range of reactor services. With 14,000 employees worldwide, every day Framatome’s expertise helps its customers improve the safety and performance of their nuclear plants and achieve their economic and societal goals. Framatome is owned by the EDF Group (75.5%), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI – 19.5%) and Assystem (5%).

Laurent KUENY, Bureau Veritas VP Nuclear Services, announces "Services provided by EQUALLE™ will strongly increase confidence in equipment qualification testing and certification for Nuclear New Build projects in the United Kingdom, in particular in relation with Hinkley Point C project".

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in laboratory testing, inspection and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 74,000 employees located in 1,400 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Andy Ward, Doosan Babcock Director Asset Management, states “The collective strengths and expertise of the EQUALLE™ partners will provide Nuclear New Build developers with the reassurance that they and their supply chains will meet the regulatory equipment qualification needs so keeping the overall programme on schedule”.

DOOSAN BABCOCK is a specialist in the delivery of engineering, aftermarket and upgrade services to the power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical and process sectors. With a focus on the delivery of low-carbon technologies and an industry-leading project management capability, the company builds, maintains and extends the life of customer assets worldwide.