US firm to open Yorkshire nuclear reactor factory

Holtec Britain plans to manufacture Small Modular Reactors, like the one pictured above, at the new site

South Yorkshire has been chosen as the home for an American company's factory making nuclear reactors.

Holtec, the world's largest exporter of capital nuclear components, said it planned to build small modular reactors (SMRs) at the factory to serve the UK, European and Middle East markets.

It would represent a £1.5bn investment in the area, creating about 3,000 engineering jobs over the next 20 years, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority said.

Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire's mayor, said: "We're right at the cutting edge of the new nuclear, hydrogen and sustainable aviation sectors, and proud to be home to the largest clean tech sector in the UK."

“Holtec has chosen South Yorkshire as the home of its £1.5bn manufacturing facility because it recognises we are the new home of the emerging clean energy sector in this country," Mr Coppard said.

“I promised to deliver a clean energy transformation and this decision is just more evidence of the huge and increasingly rapid progress we’re making.”

The South Yorkshire site was chosen from 13 potential locations around the UK – with the mayor’s office stating it would “cement South Yorkshire as the natural home for emerging clean energy sectors”.

'High quality jobs'

Holtec Britain – a subsidiary of Holtec International - has been working at Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk for more than 15 years and has been in the UK for nearly 30 years.

The firm said the SMR factory in South Yorkshire would see at least 70% of materials, components and work carried out in the UK.

It added that £50m would be invested into UK skills and training through its SMR Learning Academy.

Gareth Thomas, director of Holtec Britain, said he was impressed by the "history and pride" of the people the company met during a recent visit to South Yorkshire.

“Holtec has been part of the nuclear ecosystem in this country for many years and is absolutely committed to creating high quality local jobs, supply chain opportunities and partnerships that will help South Yorkshire and the UK grow and prosper," Mr Thomas said.

“Holtec’s SMR-300 is a PWR reactor enabling the factory to also produce large naval reactor components to not only support the country’s energy security, but also its national security."

Holtec currently employs more than 2,000 people globally and provides spent fuel storage and transport for 145 nuclear plants worldwide.

Rolls-Royce SMR also chose South Yorkshire as the home for its multimillion-pound facility earlier this year.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.