Heidelberg Materials UK Commissions First Nuclear-Grade Concrete Batching Plant at Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 19, Heidelberg Materials UK announced that it has installed the first nuclear-grade concrete batching plant at the Sizewell C nuclear power station site in Suffolk, England, and has begun producing specialty concrete for the construction of the perimeter cut-off wall around the nuclear power station. The nuclear project is planned to include two reactor units with a total installed capacity of 3.2 GW. The concrete produced at the batching plant is used to form a waterproof barrier around the construction site, creating the conditions for the subsequent excavation of approximately 4 million cubic meters of earth.

The perimeter cut-off wall at Sizewell C consists of concrete wall panels and a plastic cutoff wall, extending more than 50 meters underground. Heidelberg Materials is responsible for supplying the concrete required for the first phase of construction, with a planned supply of approximately 35,000 cubic meters, initially sourced from the Ipswich concrete plant, followed by the addition of on-site batching facilities. The concrete mix uses admixtures supplied by Sika to meet pouring and compaction requirements and to inhibit groundwater ingress.

The perimeter cut-off wall construction is being carried out by a civil engineering alliance comprising Balfour Beatty of the UK, Laing O'Rourke, and Bouygues Travaux Publics of France. Heidelberg Materials is cooperating with the alliance on nuclear-grade concrete supply, and the on-site batching plant has been put into production of materials required for cut-off wall construction. The relevant concrete production and quality management are carried out in accordance with the nuclear industry quality management standard BS EN ISO 19443.

Heidelberg Materials UK previously participated in concrete supply for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station and is applying the relevant material mix proportions, production quality management, and on-site supply experience to the Sizewell C project. Over the previous 12 months, the company carried out cut-off wall concrete mix development and testing work with the project team. According to staffing arrangements published by Heidelberg Materials, its project team at the Sizewell C site will reach up to 200 people.