ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation, today formally dedicated a new branch office that will facilitate Westinghouse’s participation in the development of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program at Barakah, in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Westinghouse will use its new Westinghouse Electric-Abu Dhabi office, working in close cooperation with Toshiba Power Systems Company, to promote the merits of safe, clean and reliable nuclear energy throughout the Middle East region.
At a ceremony to commemorate the opening, Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse Senior Vice President, New Plants and Major Projects, lauded the United Arab Emirates for its forward-looking energy and economic policies. “The UAE’s decision to move forward with a comprehensive nuclear energy program is universally accepted as a role model for other nations and regions committed to energy independence,” he said.
Westinghouse supports the UAE’s program as a U.S. subcontractor to the Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO), the Prime Contractor to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), who is responsible for the deployment, ownership and operation of nuclear energy plants within the UAE. The company provides plant components such as reactor coolant pumps and instrumentation and control equipment, along with engineering, licensing, and training services for ENEC’s four units currently under construction at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (Barakah NPP), the first of which is scheduled to become operational in 2017.
Mr. Benjamin also emphasized that the new office and the ongoing support of the Barakah plant will help to further expand the company’s mutually beneficial relationships with the ENEC, KEPCO, and other UAE energy infrastructure stakeholders. “We intend to work closely with the entire Barakah NPP project team to ensure the highest levels of long-term safety and project success in all areas, including new plant delivery, fuel, service and training,” he said.
“An important factor in the UAE’s decision to pursue peaceful nuclear energy was the opportunity for the development of a new industrial sector here in the UAE; and the establishment of new regional hubs for major industry players such as Westinghouse is evidence of the flourishing nuclear energy sector that is emerging here as a result of our program,” commented ENEC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Al Hammadi.
“Westinghouse plays an important role in the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program through our Prime Contract with KEPCO, and we congratulate them on the opening of their new Middle Eastern headquarters here in Abu Dhabi,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi.
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. Currently, Westinghouse has eight AP1000® reactors under construction—four in China at the Sanmen and Haiyang sites and four in the U.S. at the Vogtle site in Georgia and the V.C. Summer site in South Carolina. AP1000 is a trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company LLC. All rights reserved.
Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into five strategic business domains: Energy & Infrastructure, Community Solutions, Healthcare Systems & Services, Electronic Devices & Components, and Lifestyles Products & Services. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” Toshiba promotes global operations towards securing “Growth Through Creativity and Innovation,” and is contributing to the achievement of a world in which people everywhere live in safe, secure and comfortable society.
Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of over 590 consolidated companies employing over 200,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 6.5 trillion yen (US$63 billion). To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.
