Westinghouse wins long-term contract for Leibstadt nuclear plant inspections

Switzerland’s Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant today awarded a long-term contract for reactor pressure vessel nozzle inspection to Westinghouse Electric Co. and its subsidiary, WesDyne International, according to an announcement from Westinghouse, which has performed these inspections for Leibstadt for 10 years.

“We are absolutely delighted to have won this contract,” Westinghouse Vice President and Managing Director for Central Europe Norbert Haspel said. “We are so pleased that we will be able to continue our trusting, fruitful cooperation with Leibstadt, delivering inspections to the highest standards.”

The six-year contract, which includes an optional four-year extension, will be carried out from Westinghouse’s Mannheim facility by experts from WesDyne, the company’s nondestructive inspection branch. According to the contract, Westinghouse’s responsibilities will include qualification of Leibstadt's mechanized ultrasonic inspection system and annual inspections of 56 nozzles, comprising eight nozzle varietals, with each having up to three different welds.

"We are pleased to continue cooperation with Westinghouse to provide Leibstadt with their proven combination of safety-focused inspection techniques and experience-driven duration times that will maximize our plant's availability," Leibstadt Mechanical Engineering Department Manager Michael Kessler said.