Heidelberg Materials supply concrete for main works at Sizewell C
Company to supply around 35,000 cubic metres of concrete over the next seven months
HEIDELBERG Materials UK have secured the contract to supply the concrete for the main works at Sizewell C on the East Suffolk coast.
The material is being used to construct the initial phase of the cut-off wall, which will run around the perimeter of the site of the new nuclear power station. The structure, which is comprised of concrete panels and a plastic wall, will extend more than 50m into the ground. It will create a watertight barrier to allow around four million cubic metres of earth to be excavated from the site to allow construction of the two reactor units.
Around 35,000m3 of concrete will be supplied over the next seven months, initially from Heidelberg Materials’ Ipswich concrete plant. The company is also installing a mobile batching plant at the Sizewell C site, which is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The concrete contains admixtures from Sika to ensure workability, allow a longer window for placing and compaction, and inhibit the ingress of groundwater.
‘Our nuclear team has wide-ranging experience in the sector and is sharing best practice and lessons learned from our close involvement in supplying Hinkley Point C over the last decade,’ said Sean Hunter, head of nuclear operations at Heidelberg Materials UK.
‘Throughout the past 12 months we have supported the Sizewell C team, in collaboration with our supply partners, to develop and trial the concrete mix, supporting the project’s objective to deliver Sizewell under intelligent replication of Hinkley.’
