INTE RNATIONAL
GE Wins Japanese Atomic Power Contract Will build nation's second commercial plant at cost of $88.8 million For months, the two giants of the U.S. (and world) atomic power industry had been jockeying for position. Each sent some of its top nuclear experts and slide-rule artists, with their back-up men, to Tokyo to check and refine its proposal. Meanwhile, teams from Japan Atomic Power Co. (JAPC), builder of Japan's first commercial atomic power station at TokaiMura, listened, questioned, and studied. At stake was Japan's second commercial atomic power plant, a 310m w ( e ) . , $88.8 million project that could set the pattern for future nuclear facilities in Japan, a nation with ambitious nuclear plans. JAPC decided long ago that the reactor type should be either boiling-water (as championed by General Electric) or pressurized-water (espoused by Westinghouse Electric). The two U.S. firms had submitted their proposals May 30. In last minute efforts, executives from both firms planed into Tokyo in mid-September. After two weeks of conferences with JAPC officials, on Sept. 30, it was all over. The winner was General Electric. The formal contract probably will be signed next January, following a safety study (in Japan). The reactor will be a boiling-water (light) type, with single-cycle forced circulation. Slightly enriched uranium oxide will be the fuel. The power station will be built by GE Technical Services Co. at Tsuruga, about 50 miles northeast of Kyoto, on the Sea of Japan. Ebasco Services will be architect-engineer for the project, which is to be completed in 1969. JAPC says that the reactor will produce electricity for about 8.6 mills per kwh. during its first year, and for an average of 7.2 mills per kwh. over a
20-year span. Electricity in Japan now costs about 8.3 mills per kwh. from coal, 6.9 mills from oil, and 2.8 .to 22.2 mills from water, depending on location. Though GE got the nod, the race for the contract was apparently a close one. "JAPC was looking for a proven type [of reactor] and we felt that the GE type was somewhat more proven. But the GE and Westinghouse proposals were nearly equal," says a JAPC executive. GE already had an edge on Westinghouse in the atomic power race. Westinghouse has built, is building, or has orders for seven atomic power
plants in the U.S. totaling 2190 m w ( e ) . , and six plants overseas totaling 1060 m w ( e ) . - a total of 3250 m w ( e ) . Comparable score for GE is nine plants in the U.S. totaling 3300 m w ( e ) . , and seven plants abroad totaling 1290 m w ( e ) . , for a total of 4590 raw(e). The new Japanese reactor will be GE's 17th and will raise its world total to 4900 m w ( e ) . GE is naturally content with its latest order, though Westinghouse hasn't lost heart by any means. Of the company's future in Japan, "The program down the road looks good," says a Westinghouse man in Tokyo.
SITE. Circle shows location of the new atomic power plant to be built by General Electric at Tsuruga, on the Sea of Japan. Completion is planned for 1969
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While JAPC was making up its mind on the Tsuruga station, British and Japanese engineers at Tokai-Mura were readying Japan's first commercial reactor for full-scale work. An improved Calder Hall type, the station is a gas-cooled, graphite-moderated unit rated at 166 m w ( e ) . It uses natural uranium fuel. But the British may find themselves cut off in Japan's atomic power competition. At least, they are in for a dry spell. According to Japan's longrange atomic power plans, three more stations with a total capacity of 900 m w ( e ) . will be built by 1970. The Kansai, Tokyo, and Chubu electric power companies will have them built (almost certainly by a U.S. company), and they will all be either boiling- or pressurized-water reactors. The next three plants, with a total capacity of 1700 m w ( e ) . , will probably be installed by 1974. The type hasn't been spelled out yet. This might let the British back in. But by that time, the Japanese may well be able to build their own plants with minimum outside help. Japan's long-range plan calls also for two more atomic power projects with a total capacity of 550 m w ( e ) . to be completed by 1974. By 1977, six more plants totaling 2400 m w ( e ) . will be built, according to the plan. Total capacity from the 16 projects would then be 6041 m w ( e ) . Future plans call for pushing on to 10,000 m w ( e ) . by 1980, and to 20,000 m w ( e ) . by 1990. Current Japanese power capacity totals some 28,180 m w ( e ) . (62.5% thermal, 37.5% hydro). This is the world's fourth largest capacity, after the U.S., U.S.S.R., and Great Britain. But the country has scant natural energy resources, thus seems ideally suited to nuclear power.
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C&EN
OCT. 18, 1 9 6 5
partly owned by B. F. Goodrich, has awarded a contract to the Badger Co. to build a polyvinyl chloride complex at Mettur Dam, Madras State.
Squibb, S.p.A., Italy, will build a $5.6 million pharmaceutical plant about 30 miles south of Rome. The company is an affiliate of Olin Mathieson, not of McKesson & Robbins (C&EN, Sept. 20, page 8 8 ) .
