OREANDA-NEWS. Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd. announced that the company held a suppliers forum at the British Embassy in Tokyo on January 25 for the "Horizon Wylfa Newydd Project," the project will construct a new nuclear power plant on the Isle of Anglesey off the northwest coast of Wales in the UK.

It was attended by Tim Hitchens, British Ambassador to Japan, and other senior UK government officials. Part of the "Innovation is Great" campaign of the UK Government that seeks to foster partnerships between Japan and the UK. This event in Japan was the first such forum, its aim was to outline the prospects for the nuclear market in the UK and to raise awareness about the Horizon project among Japanese suppliers that are anticipated may participate in the project.

The forum was attended by approximately 100 people from approximately 40 companies, including construction companies and suppliers of electrical machinery, pumps, air conditioning, and other equipment.

Following a speech by Ambassador Tim Hitchens expressing the UK Government's hopes for the project, Hitachi-GE managers gave an overview of the Horizon Project. Officials from the UK and Welsh Governments explained the importance of nuclear power generation to their energy policy and the potential for industrial cooperation. A further presentation on the potential for Japanese companies to grow their businesses in Wales was followed by a lively question and answer session.

The Wylfa Newydd Project involves the construction by Horizon Nuclear Power of a nuclear power plant on the Isle of Anglesey that is intended to commence operation in the first half of the 2020s, and which will use Hitachi-GE UK ABWRs. The project will bring significant business opportunities to industry in Wales and elsewhere in the UK, both during construction and in the subsequent decades of plant operation.

Hitachi-GE and Horizon Nuclear Power have already staged supplier events in May 2013 in Gloucester, and in July 2015 in Wales where they explained their procurement policies to companies that are likely to act as suppliers to the Horizon Project. These events outlined future plans for work on the project as well as quality and other compliance and standards requirements. Following on from these forums, it is hoped this latest forum, which was held for the first time in Japan, will serve as a platform for encouraging collaboration between Japanese and UK companies through the decades-long course of Horizon's Wylfa Newydd Project.