SKODA JS strengthens business as well as technology
Date: 14. 12. 2009
Successful development of Plzen-seated company SKODA JS a.s. in the technical, manufacturing as well as business sphere has continued this year again. SKODA JS has strengthened its position of an internationally recognized company in the field of nuclear power industry and a prominent player in key projects. The company has continued its cooperation with all significant manufacturers and suppliers in the field. At the same time, it has developed its activities on different projects, and coordinated and managed supplies of tens of Czech companies.
Despite the crisis, it has increased the number of its employees by 150 in the year elapsed, whereby it supported social stability not only in Plzen. By its contracts concluded, SKODA JS a.s. has also positively influenced the labor market situation in the regions of its partners and suppliers’ operation.
In June 2009, a contract was signed in Bratislava between SKODA JS a.s. and Slovenske elektrarne, a.s. for completion of key systems of the nuclear island of the Mochovce nuclear power plant. Within the frame of the project, SKODA JS manages its own supplies and also supplies of a number of other Czech companies in the total amount exceeding CZK 10 billion. The company thereby confirms its position of not only a manufacturer of equipment for nuclear power industry but also an engineering organization, designer and coordinator of large investment units. Obtaining the project enables further improvement of the qualification level of a new generation of experts, who will subsequently apply their skills and knowledge upon the planned construction of new units at the Temelin, Dukovany and Bohunice nuclear power plants.
Key manufacturing projects for Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian and Hungarian power plants in the year elapsed included supplies of reactor control rod drive mechanisms, reactor main flange stud tensioning equipment and racks for spent nuclear fuel compact storage.
In July, SKODA JS announced conclusion of a contract with French company AREVA NP for manufacture of EPR-type reactor internal parts for the Chinese Taishan project. The new nuclear power plant is being constructed by a consortium of French AREVA NP SAS and Chinese companies operating in the nuclear power industry in the Guangdong province in the South-East of China, near Hong Kong. The EPR reactor represents a new type of a pressurized water reactor of so-called III+ generation. Its dimensions impose extreme requirements on the manufacturing process, moving along the very edge of technological possibilities. SKODA JS has cooperated with AREVA NP on EPR projects since 2005, when it was awarded contracts for manufacture of the reactor internals and reactor pressure vessel supporting frame for a new unit of the Finish Olkiluoto nuclear power plant.
At present, the most remarkable business transaction in the service area is the provision of complex service of the reactor buildings of all Czech NPP units, i.e. four VVER 440-type units at Dukovany NPP and two VVER 1000-type units at Temelin NPP. Following the victory in the selection procedure, SKODA JS gained the position of the exclusive service provider for the period from 2008 to 2015. Corresponding service contracts are concluded with ČEZ on a yearly basis. Highly qualified service is also provided to nuclear power plants in Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Armenia and Finland.
In October 2009, SKODA JS became the leader of a consortium of three influential companies experienced in engineering and turn-key construction of nuclear power plants, which, on the ground of the assignment by electricity company ČEZ, a.s., decided to jointly submit a competitive bid and succeed in the tender for the “Temelin Nuclear Power Plant Completion” project.
The partners of SKODA JS within the above consortium are Russian companies JSC “Atomstroyexport” and OKB „Gidropress“. The MIR 1200 design is based on a concept of new III+ generation reactors, designated as AES-2006. It is a result of evolution development of VVER technology, which is in international practice ranked among the designs of nuclear power plants with PWR-type pressurized water reactors. The system is well known to Czech and Slovak experts and power engineers as it continues the equipment, which they currently operate with. The experience in reliable operation of VVER-type nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic and Slovakia exceeds 200 reactor years in total. At present, nuclear power plants with modernized VVER 1000–type reactors are operated in China (two power units) and construction of seven VVER 1000/1200 units in Russian and five units in other foreign countries (for instance in India or Bulgaria) is in progress.
The consortium led by SKODA JS guarantees major participation (approx. 70 %) of demanding and highly qualified Czech supplies from all different spheres upon implementation of the MIR 1200 design. Apart from 1,000 working positions in SKODA JS and approximately 8,000 positions in supplying companies, further tens of thousands of positions will be maintained or created in sub-supplying companies. Regional economics across the entire Czech Republic and Slovakia will strengthen. Simultaneously with submission of the qualification documentation, the representatives of the Russian companies interpreted a preliminary offer for withdrawal of spent nuclear fuel from the newly constructed Temelin units for its reprocessing. As for the Czech Republic, this would significantly simplify the issue of future spent nuclear fuel storage.
As early as today, the results of 2009 show that, thanks to the skills, knowledge and experience of its employees, SKODA JS supports the new phase of nuclear power renaissance. As Mr. Miroslav Fiala, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager, stated, the renaissance commenced in Europe by new nuclear projects in Finland, France and Slovakia, and will continue by the construction of Unit 3 and 4 at the Temelin nuclear power plant and other locations in Central Europe. SKODA JS offers its present and future customers experience of long standing and a wide range of products in the field of engineering, manufacture and service of components for nuclear power plants. Following its initial focus on VVER-type pressurized water reactors only, over the last years SKODA JS has gained even more important references for PWR and BWR-type reactors. This leads to widening of the sphere of future markets and supplies of the company.
Jan Stolár, PR manager
jan.stolar@skoda-js.cz