US Company Invests in UK Factory

In some good news for the nuclear industry, it has been announced that Holtec, the world’s largest exporter of capital nuclear components, has selected South Yorkshire as the location for its new factory.

The company says it is planning to build small modular reactors in the new factory that will provide for the UK, European and Middle East markets.

In a major boost to the region which has also been chosen by Rolls-Royce as the location for its new multi million pound facility, the site was selected  from 13 potential locations around the UK. Representing a £1.5bn investment, the factory will create around 3,000 engineering jobs over the course of the next 20 years. 

Holtec has retained a presence in the UK for almost 30 years and has been working at the Sizewell B nuclear power station in Suffolk for over 15 years. The company has confirmed that £50m will be invested into UK skills and training through its dedicated SMR Learning Academy. This commitment will result in the creation of high quality jobs, supply chain opportunities and partnerships in the region that will be crucial in helping the local and wider economy to grow and thrive.

The SMR-300 whose components will be built at the factory, is a pressurised water reactor that is one of five SMR designs being considered for UK use by Great British Nuclear. The company secured £30 million from the government’s Future Nuclear Enabling Fund in December 2023. 

The factory’s capacity to produce large naval reactor components will not only help support our country’s energy security, but also our national security. The firm has said that the SMR factory will see at least 70% of materials, components and work carried out in the UK. As a major player in the industry, Holtec employs more than 2,000 people globally providing spent fuel storage and transport for 145 nuclear plants worldwide.