Westinghouse Announces Strategic Agreement with Leading South African Engineering Company
Cape Town (PRWEB) October 24, 2013 -- Westinghouse Electric Company today announced that it has signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sebata Group of Companies (Sebata Group), a leading South African-owned and operated engineering, procurement and construction management company, in preparation for the potential construction of Westinghouse AP1000® nuclear power plants in South Africa.
The agreement was signed in the presence of high-ranking government officials from both South Africa and Belgium during a Belgian Economic Mission to South Africa. The MOU signed today marks the start of Westinghouse’s collaboration with the Sebata Group aimed at development of an engineering-led organization, involved in a variety of disciplines, including safety, health, environment, risk and quality (SHERQ) and authorized inspection agency services, manufacturing quality support and skills development and training in the nuclear industry sector.
Westinghouse has been active in South Africa's nuclear industry, mainly through support to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, since the 1990s and is at the origin of the nuclear fleet technology in South Africa - its two reactors are Westinghouse-licensed. Westinghouse’s main localization drive started in 2007 when it acquired IST Nuclear (Pty) Ltd, now operating as Westinghouse Electric South Africa (Pty) Ltd. From offices in Cape Town and Centurion, Westinghouse supports Eskom’s Koeberg facilities, Necsa, other local nuclear industry partners, and projects in China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the U.S.
“This important agreement with Sebata Group not only reaffirms our pledge to use local talent and resources, but our commitment to develop and support the South African nuclear industry,” said François Harari, Westinghouse vice president and managing director for France, Benelux and South Africa. “Westinghouse and Sebata Group will utilize their complementary skills in upcoming projects to further develop the expertise required for an eventual nuclear build project in South Africa. Supplier development is critical to Westinghouse and that’s why we think globally but act locally.”
“We’re very pleased with this partnership,” said Matome Edmund Modipa, SEBATA Group executive chairman and founder of SEBATA Group. “It’s aligned with our growth strategy in positioning SEBATA Group as a premier SHERQ, engineering, management consulting and training and nuclear company in Africa.”
Only just recently, Westinghouse signed an agreement with South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) to investigate and cooperate in the development of local fabrication capabilities for fuel assembly components. Westinghouse remains committed to play an active role in the electricity generation in South Africa, building on its localization efforts through a network of industrial partners, some of which may become partners in the global supply chain for the AP1000 fleet.
Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied the world's first pressurized water reactor in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa., U.S. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants, including more than 50 percent of those in Europe.
Sebata Group is an Engineering-led consultancy business which is structured for the delivery of value across the engineering value-chain. The Group engages in construction and engineering activities in a variety of sectors and its delivery units are supported by parts manufacturing and supply. In addition to engineering services, the support services include Nuclear, SHERQ, Management Consulting & Human capital development through its Academy of Excellence, technology support and certification. Amongst other instrumental projects to add to its credibility, the Group has thus far been a key partner in constructing the Medupi Power station which is the second largest coal-fired power utility in the world. The Group currently employs over 110 individuals and is growing its operations across Africa.
AP1000 is a trademark or registered trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, its affiliates and/or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and may be registered in other countries throughout the world. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Sheila Holt, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC, http://www.westinghousenuclear.com, +1 412-992-1947, [email protected]
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