Toshiba to boost nuclear reactor production capability

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Toshiba Corp will beef up its nuclear reactor production capability by enhancing its ties with IHI Corp and South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Doosan Heavy will support Toshiba and IHI through technical cooperation in production of equipment for pressurized water reactors, the sources said.

Toshiba hopes to reinforce its production capability as many countries around the world are moving to build new nuclear power stations, the sources said.

In 2006, Toshiba acquired U.S. nuclear power plant builder Westinghouse Electric Co, known for its strength in PWR production. The U.S. unit has won a total of 10 PWR orders from the United States and China.

But Toshiba and IHI, Toshiba’s partner which manufactures reactor-related products, have no technological know-how on PWR equipment, because they have focused on boiling-water reactors.

Westinghouse holds technologies but does not have any major manufacturing facility.

Meanwhile, Doosan Heavy has received orders from Westinghouse for steam generators and other PWR equipment for the Chinese market.

Toshiba will seek assistance from the South Korean firm, while IHI will establish a production system for PWR equipment, the sources said.