OREANDA-NEWS. Toshiba Corporation has withdrawn an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew design certification (DC) of Toshiba’s Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR).

The original ABWR DC issued by the NRC in 1997 expired in 2012, and Toshiba issued an application for DC renewal in 2010, seeking to extend the period of validity following a further design review by the NRC. As it has become increasingly clear that energy price declines in the U.S. prevent Toshiba from expecting additional opportunities for ABWR construction projects there, Toshiba has determined that it is no longer necessary to continue the DC renewal process. Toshiba has accordingly withdrawn the application. This decision will have no impact on Toshiba’s overall nuclear power business.

Separately, in February 2016 the NRC issued a Combined License (COL) for South Texas Project (STP) units 3 and 4 in Texas, a new ABWR construction project. The timing of the start of construction at STP is now under consideration, and will not be impacted by the DC withdrawal.

Toshiba and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) continue to pursue opportunities for new nuclear power plant construction projects in U.S., with consideration for the U.S. electricity market, and to seek opportunities in the global market for the ABWR and WEC’s advanced pressurized water reactor, the AP1000™.