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Kier Nuvia JV wins £200m contract for fusion energy plant
Nadine Buddoo CM People Editor
The former coal plant at West Burton will make way for the STEP fusion programme. Image: Andrew Norris | Dreamstime.com
ILIOS, a consortium led by a Kier and Nuvia joint venture, has been appointed by UK Fusion Energy to deliver the first three‑year, £200m tranche of the STEP fusion programme.
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The appointment covers the design and build of a prototype fusion power plant and forms part of a wider programme with future opportunities valued at up to £10bn.
Led by UK Fusion Energy – previously known as UK Industrial Fusion Solutions – the programme aims to deliver a commercially viable fusion power plant by 2040.
The ILIOS consortium will be responsible for the design and construction of all buildings, infrastructure and facilities on the STEP site, as well as supporting the constructability and interface of the wider power plant.
Works will include site management, design, construction, programme planning, supply chain management, progress monitoring, project controls and constructability assurance.
At its peak, construction at West Burton will support up to 8,000 onsite jobs, creating new opportunities for local residents and businesses, as well as employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeships.
Supporting the UK’s energy resilience
Simon Matthews, programme director for ILIOS, described the contract award as “a significant milestone” in the UK’s transition to clean energy.
“Following an extensive and collaborative procurement stage, we are proud to be selected as construction partner for the STEP programme and to be part of this innovative and transformative chapter in energy supply,” Matthews said.
“Through our involvement on the STEP programme, we will help advance the UK’s future energy resilience and decarbonisation ambitions, supporting economic and regional growth, high-quality jobs and the development of a long-term, UK-based, fusion supply chain.”
Paul Methven, CEO of UK Fusion Energy, added: “The appointment of ILIOS as our construction partner marks a significant milestone for the STEP programme.
“Their combined experience in major infrastructure, safety-critical engineering and complex site transformation gives us real confidence as we move from planning into delivery.
“This partnership will help ensure that West Burton becomes a leading centre of fusion innovation and a cornerstone of the UK’s future clean energy landscape.”
Supply chain partnerships
As part of the announcement, the government has published its Fusion Strategy, which sets out its wider £2.5bn investment in nuclear fusion.
Alan Sinclair, director and UK head of energy and natural resources at Turner & Townsend, welcomed the timing of the announcement but warned that effective partnerships will be key to successful delivery.
“Against a backdrop of rising energy costs and the necessity for energy security, we're reminded of the critical need to keep exploring diverse sources of power,” Sinclair said.
“The ground-breaking STEP programme will deliver the UK’s first prototype fusion reactor in West Burton – paving the way for future innovation with the promise of clean, abundant and resilient energy.
“But before we put spades in the ground, we must ensure the right delivery models are in place to steer such complex programmes. Fusion is a pioneering field, and it needs the approaches to match. Developing effective partnerships will be essential to realising opportunities as the supply chain develops and local communities connect around this work.
“While fusion will push new boundaries, we are far from starting from scratch. The UK has a strong heritage in nuclear delivery and through combining innovation with the decades of insights gained, we can set these ambitions on the strongest possible footing.”
