Apr 29 2009
Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced that Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corporation, a U.S.-based Toshiba Group company, will establish an engineering center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The center will open this August, and will provide solid foundations for Toshiba Group's expansion of its nuclear power businesses and support for utility customers in the U.S. market.
Major utilities in the United States have announced plans to build over 30 new nuclear power plants in coming years. Toshiba and Westinghouse, a Toshiba Group company, are responding by promoting marketing activities to win orders for both advanced boiling water reactors (ABWR) and leading-edge pressurized water reactors in the form of the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant and their related systems. Toshiba and Westinghouse have been awarded EPC contracts for a combined total of eight units of nuclear power plants in the United States alone.
Toshiba established Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corporation in January 2008, in Falls Church, Virginia, on the outskirt of Washington D.C., as a base to promote Toshiba's nuclear power businesses in the United States. The establishment of an independent engineering base will bolster Toshiba Group in expanding its nuclear power businesses in the United States by reinforcing support for construction of ABWR power plants, as well as supply steam turbines and other major equipment for AP1000 plants. The number of personnel at the center will increase to some 200 by the end of 2013.
"Charlotte is an ideal location for Toshiba's new engineering base, as it offers excellent transportation and easy access to business partners and customers. It is also rich in people who have extensive experience in energy-related industries," said Fuyuki Saito, President and CEO, Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corporation. "Alongside its strategic contributions to business development, we believe the new center will make a positive contribution to the regional economy through employment creation."
Toshiba and Westinghouse will continue to refine their technological capabilities, work in close collaboration to maximize synergies, and solidify their ability to provide wide-ranging solutions covering new nuclear plant construction, and operations and maintenance (O&M) services of existing plants.
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