Westinghouse S.C. facility builds 100,000th nuclear-fuel assembly unit

Westinghouse Electric Co.’s Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Columbia, South Carolina, said late last week that it  has manufactured its 100,000th nuclear-fuel assembly.

“We are proud of our environmental stewardship and the employees who made it happen,” José Emeterio Gutiérrez, Westinghouse's senior vice president for Nuclear Fuel and Components Manufacturing, said. “Since 1969, our employees in Columbia, South Carolina, have been creating value for customers and contributing to a healthier planet through the work they do every day. The Columbia site produces fuel and fuel-related products and services for 13 countries and has been recognized and awarded numerous occasions for its commitment to safety by the National Safety Council.”

Company President and CEO Danny Roderick said that with this amount of nuclear fuel assemblies, the company is estimating that approximately 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon emissions are saved, compared with an equivalent capacity generated through natural gas means, and approximately 12.7 billion metric tons for coal generation of the same capacity.

Westinghouse said approximately 10 percent of electricity generated in the U.S. is produced by nuclear facilities utilizing the company’s fuel assemblies made at the Columbia facility.

Westinghouse Electric is a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp. and is considered a leading manufacturer of nuclear technology and components.