Enel, EDF move ahead on Italian nuclear projects

Italy's EPR1600 Nuclear Program outlines a tender process with Enel, EDF, and Areva for reactor construction, mirroring Flamanville III supply chains, covering nuclear island and conventional island scope, targeting operations by 2020.

Major Italian utility Enel SpA, in partnership with Electricite de France SA EDF, started a market survey back in January to evaluate the abilities of the Italian firms involved in the electronuclear technology industry.

It was the first step toward the tender process that will be held for the construction of at least four Areva EPR1600 reactors in Italy, as Enel presses ahead with nuclear plans after 23 years of prohibition of nuclear energy production.

This survey, which is being conducted online at Enels website, will last until July, when the evaluation of interested firms begins. The technical, financial and legal qualification of firms will take about a year until the release of the first bidding documents in the second quarter of 2011.

The tenders will be by invitation among the qualified firms and, as Areva and EDF team up on nuclear bids across related markets, will follow a supply chain similar to the one used in the Flamanville III project in France. The activities of the project will be divided into four main components: the nuclear steam supply system, the balance of the nuclear island, the construction of the conventional island, and the balance of plant for the conventional island.

Areva SA will provide technology for the nuclear steam supply system, reflecting Areva working with Italian nuclear players on key components. The contractors in charge of the remaining components will be selected by Enel and EDF. Enel and EDF will act as architectengineer on the project.

By the end of 2008, the Italian government announced plans for the return of nuclear power generation to the country by 2020. In February 2009, Enel and EDF signed a memorandum of understanding, advancing Italy's return to nuclear power for the construction of at least four 1,600megawatt reactors at three locations that have not been identified yet.

In August 2009, the two companies formed a 50:50 joint venture known as Sviluppo Nucleare Italia Srl for the elaboration of the feasibility studies of such plants. Enel and EDF will form different joint venture companies for the construction and operation of each reactor, and Enel leads in Russian nuclear partnerships to support its broader strategy. Construction of the first reactor is expected to begin in July 2015, with operations expected to begin July 2020.

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