BLACKBURN based firm Assystem UK has unveiled a new contract to support French company Edvance’s nuclear engineering projects in Britain.

The one-year contract will see Assystem provide engineering services to the company and support it on several specialist nuclear engineering projects in the UK, particularly those related to the construction of the Hinkley Point C power station in Somerset, part of the European Specialised Reactor project.

Company managers hope the move will give a vital boost to the economy in East Lancashire and the engineering sector more broadly.

Assystem UK delivery manager Arthur Margarit said: “Hinkley Point C needs to be a success for further programmes to develop, such as Sizewell C.

“Assystem is committed to ensuring the milestones of Hinkley Point C are met.”

Under the terms of the contract Assystem will cover all disciplines of design, including mechanical and layout, as well as supporting the project’s instrumentation and control, safety studies, and system engineering.

With options for both parties to negotiate a larger framework, Assystem will cover all disciplines of design, including mechanical and layout, as well as supporting the project’s instrumentation and control, safety studies, and system engineering.

The Haslingden Road based firm believe this development could be crucial to the growth of the UK’s nuclear engineering and design skills pool and could help support hundreds of jobs at the company with many thousands more across the north of England working on similar projects.

Mr Margarit said: “We bring our nuclear experience and knowledge of the EPR technology and design, gained through all the work done for EDF in France on the design of HPC, and specific niche expertise on Instrumentation and Control systems.”

The project has however attracted opposition from some local residents and environmental campaigners who have raised concerns about the safety of nuclear power, its effect on the ecosystem and the cost of the project, which amounts to the most expensive power plant in the world.

Earlier this month the Stop Hinkley group, which campaigns for the decommissioning of nuclear reactors in the area, raised concerns about what they believe is government regulators lack of response to silo damage at Hinkley Point.

They say this indicates a wider lack of oversight of the nuclear industry.

Stop Hinkley chairperson Sue Aubrey said: “Stop Hinkley understands that the Office for Nuclear Regulation had not visited the silo since the accident by June 26.

“By July 2 the silo had been removed by EDF.

“It is most unfortunate that ONR does not seem to have seen the damage for themselves, and are, therefore reliant on EDF’s explanation which does not ring true to us.”

She added: “It was premature for EDF to remove the silo before ONR could visit the site. One might be drawn to the conclusion that EDF has something to hide.”