Lockheed Martin Executive Vice President Rick Edwards and China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation’s (SNPTC) Chairman Wang Binghua cut the ribbon to a new cooperative development facility in east Fort Worth that will house project leaders and engineers from China along with their Lockheed Martin counterparts – about 50 people total. Robert Sturns, international business recruitment manager for the City of Fort Worth, is shown on the far right at the end of the front row.
Lockheed Martin is working with China’s State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Company (SNPAS), a subsidiary of SNPTC, to develop a nuclear reactor protection system for China’s Generation III civil nuclear power plants. The company’s entry into the Chinese civil nuclear energy market supports China’s quest to provide clean, efficient and safe energy generation. Lockheed Martin has more than 50 years of experience in providing the nuclear energy industry with proven technology, qualified products and safety-critical systems. The company is working on similar projects for the domestic nuclear power industry.
Lockheed Martin and State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Co. (SNPAS) of China have signed an agreement to prototype, manufacture and qualify nuclear power plant reactor protection systems for China’s Generation III reactors. SNPAS is a subsidiary of China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC).
On Friday, as part of the agreement, Grand Prairie-based Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control opened for new offices at 4500 Trinity Boulevard, just south of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to house SNPAS and Lockheed Martin as part of the agreement. Lockheed officials said about 50 employees will work out of the office designing, manufacturing and certifying nuclear reactor safety and control systems. In 2010, Lockheed Martin signed an agreement with State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Company (under the umbrella of SNPTC) to develop a reactor protection system and provide systems integration and other services for Generation III reactors for China’s nuclear energy market. The companies are partnering to help in China’s push for an alternative-energy solution and self-reliance in the nuclear energy industry. Nuclear energy plays an important role in reducing China’s carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels.
“We recognize the importance of nuclear power as a critical energy alternative for increased demand and have been developing instrumentation and control systems for more than 55 years,” said Jim Gribschaw, general manager of nuclear systems and solutions at Lockheed Martin said in an earlier release. “We are committed to creating and implementing industry-specific solutions for civilian nuclear power plants, ensuring the safety of critical power generating infrastructure.” – Robert Francis
