Weir Power & Industrial France, a subsidiary of global engineering company Weir Group, has been awarded a multi-million Euro contract by EDF to replace pneumatic controls for main steam isolation valves at 28 of its reactors in France. Weir said the contract covers the design, prototyping and testing, and supply of 84 new items, as well as on-site installation, supervision and commissioning of the new equipment. It will work in collaboration with EDF and nuclear partner SPIE Nucléaire on the seven-year contract.

Assembly and testing will be completed at Weir’s St Victoret facility, but the modernisation programme will involve seven simultaneous sites and an estimated 18,000 man hours of work. The contract follows on from the Weir’s five-year valve maintenance agreement which was signed in 2012. Stephane Lamotte, Nuclear Director Europe, Weir Power & Industrial France, said the project is a significant milestone for Weir’s French nuclear business.