Westinghouse Backs U.S. Nuclear Energy Agreement with Italy
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- An agreement signed earlier yesterday between the United States and Italy drew strong support from Westinghouse Electric Company as the two countries took a major step closer to opening the Italian market to U.S. nuclear technology.
Claudio Scajola, Italy's minister for economic development, Dr. Steven Chu, U.S. Secretary of Energy, and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Dennis F. Hightower met in Washington, D.C. to sign a Joint Declaration on Nuclear Cooperation, which paves the way for U.S. companies like Westinghouse to engage in industrial and commercial cooperation in the nuclear power industry in Italy.
Italy recently began its nuclear industry program after starting decommissioning of its nuclear power plants more than 20 years ago.
"We at Westinghouse look forward to this emerging opportunity," said Westinghouse President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Aris Candris. "Italy clearly wants and deserves access to the world's best technology as it works to make clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy a larger part of its energy mix. It is also important to point out that Westinghouse has a history of cooperation with Italy's existing nuclear infrastructure. For example, over the last two decades, significant development efforts for our AP1000(TM) nuclear power plant were conducted in Italy by Ansaldo Nucleare."
Dr. Candris also pointed out that Westinghouse's business model is one that will benefit Italy's already-robust nuclear infrastructure.
"Westinghouse is leading the global nuclear renaissance," he said. "I have no doubt that Italy's nuclear energy-related industrial base will benefit even further from our technology and our approach to business, which emphasizes localization. We look forward to demonstrating how our technology and plant design is the best option for providing safe and reliable electric power for economic growth in Italy."
Mr. Scajola is flying to Pittsburgh today where he will be greeted by officials of FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company and Westinghouse. He will also tour the Beaver Valley nuclear power plant, a Westinghouse-designed plant that has been in service since 1976.
Westinghouse Electric Company, a Toshiba Group company (TOKYO:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear power company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world. Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately over 40 percent of the world's operating nuclear plants.
