Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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UTILITY WEEK | 4TH - 10TH SEPTEMBER 2015 | 19 Wales & West Utilities operates 17 oakes from the NTS across its operating area; four in Wales and 13 in southwest England. The oakes not only reduce gas pressure, but also filter, heat, meter and check the gas's calorific value, as well as adding an odourant – the distinctive "smell of gas" – to help people detect a leak. If you have an asset or project you would like to see featured in this slot, email: paul.newton@fav-house.com Pipe up Tom Grand A s the government pen hovers over the signing of the £25 billion contract to build a new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point, it seems there has never been more scrutiny on the nuclear supply chain. Main contractor EDF has named its preferred bidders for £1.3 billion in construction contracts, with a potential bonanza of work awaiting contractors in lower tiers. Meanwhile, the UK nuclear industry is braced for at least a further £70 billion-worth of work to clear ageing nuclear power stations closed down by the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA). That work is expected to go on beyond 2100 and doesn't include the soon-to- close operating nuclear fleet. Not for decades has the biggest challenge facing the sector been that the volume of lucrative opportuni- ties raises questions about supply chain capacity, and whether industry can successfully deliver all the work. Further, with investment from overseas as well as the UK, the pressure is on to position the UK as a role model globally for safe, effective and respon- sible procurement and supply chains. Given the reliance of the industry on extensive supplier standards there is an opportu- nity for the UK nuclear supply chain to collaborate and organ- ise itself in alignment with the rest of the utilities industry to streamline the inevitable high volume of paperwork which will be required to advance all the works with suppliers. There's no doubt the current variety of approaches to supplier qualification within the nuclear sector contrib- utes to putting off many new and innovative firms from getting involved and competing for work, exacerbating skills shortages and any lack of supply chain capacity. In Achilles UVDB, 80 buying organisations work together to streamline their requirements and agree a standardised pre-qualification approach for suppliers. This means a potential supplier applies once and is then searchable for work with all companies involved. As the nuclear sector advances towards this approach, it will enable huge savings in terms of time and effort. It will also encourage new and innovative suppliers to get involved and showcase themselves to the nuclear sector as it gives a simple, single route to market while giving buyers the assurance of dealing with suppliers of proven credibility. Tom Grand is regional director for Achilles in the UK and Ireland, with responsibility for UVDB "Not for decades has the biggest challenge facing the sector been the volume of lucrative opportunities." The current variety of approaches to supplier qualification within the nuclear sector puts off many new firms Operations & Assets