AREVA's joint subsidiary with Siemens, Framatome ANP Inc., has been awarded contracts by American Electric Power to supply and install replacement reactor vessel closure heads (RVCHs) and control rod drive mechanisms (CRDMs) for D.C. Cook nuclear power plant Units 1 and 2.
The RVCHs and CRDMs will be replaced during regularly scheduled maintenance and refueling outages, currently planned for Unit 1 in 2006, and Unit 2 in 2007.
The RVCHs will be manufactured by AREVA's Chalon Saint Marcel fabrication facility in France, where the company also manufactures new as well as replacement steam generators and pressurizers for the nuclear power industry. AREVA's Jeumont S.A. facility in France will manufacture the CRDMs using innovative Integrated Latch Housing design which eliminates the lower canopy seal weld, a key improvement addressing the inspection and maintenance concerns of utilities and regulatory authorities. AREVA is currently providing refueling outage support and other services for D.C. Cook.
AREVA has produced 54 replacement RVCHs (9 for the U.S. market) and 5035 CRDMs with another 19 replacement RVCHs (6 for the U.S. market) and 546 CRDMs on order, representing a significant portion of the global market for major replacement components.
2/25/2005