Firm to act as supplier and consultant in the UK and globally

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to develop a nuclear division to secure a role in new-build programmes around the world.

Sir John Rose, Rolls Royce chief executive

The company said it wanted to act as a supplier and consultant in schemes both in the UK and emerging markets such as China.

Last week Gordon Brown called for a 鈥渘uclear renaissance鈥� and said he wanted to see a minimum of eight new stations built over the next 15 years.

Rolls-Royce estimates the civil nuclear industry will be worth 拢50bn a year by 2023 鈥� a rise of 拢20bn from the market鈥檚 current value.

Sir John Rose, chief executive, said: 鈥淥ur experience is directly applicable to all phases of new-build programmes that are planned in the UK and globally, and also to the upgrade of existing plants. Our capability is unique in the UK and matched by only a handful of companies worldwide.鈥�

The group is already carrying out review work on two nuclear plant design assessments for EDF and Westinghouse. It said it had appointed a new president of civil nuclear and would build up a team of managers and staff for the division.