Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) of Japan is one of the suitors interested in Westinghouse. The two organizations have a long history of cooperation, dating back more than 30 years when MHI licensed Westinghouse’s Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR)design. MSN Money reprinted an article from the Financial Times on the topic on July 10, 2005 under the title of Japanese group eyes US nuclear operator.
In addition to their PWR interests, both companies are major participants in the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project in South Africa. MHI has contracts to perform basic design and research for a number of the components for the plant, including the core barrel assembly (CBA) and the helium turbo generator system, while Westinghouse is providing other technical support.
When I interviewed Regis Matzie of Westinghouse last month, we discussed their contribution to the project. The full text of the interview can be found at PBMR Update, June 7, 2005. Information about MHI’s PBMR contracts can be found at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Design Helium-driven Turbo Generator for South Africa.
