Atkins and Assystem are to form a strategic alliance to create a 50/50 nuclear engineering joint venture to provide consultancy and engineering services to the rapidly-expanding international nuclear new build market.

The Nuclear Atkins Assystem Alliance will enable both companies to address demand from governments and utilities in countries developing nuclear power as part of their energy mix and will provide services to nuclear new build projects and across the entire nuclear fuel cycle.

The alliance will enable both Atkins and Assystem to expand in a highly promising market. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that more than 30 countries are using nuclear power as a sustainable energy source and another 30 are considering development. Together, these countries represent a market of more than 200 new reactors over the next 20 years. Together, Atkins and Assystem employ some 27,000 highly trained professionals. The Nuclear Atkins Assystem Alliance is supported by this talent pool, of which 3,000 are professionals with nuclear skills, capable of delivering the engineering services needed to keep pace with this fast-growing sector. As they diversify their energy mixes, governments and power utilities will need to count on the support of experienced engineering partners, with a well-established track record in the design, construction and operation of nuclear power facilities.


Headquartered in France, the alliance will combine Atkins' and Assystem's strengths to position both companies to take advantage of opportunities in the international nuclear market. Atkins and Assystem will continue to serve their home markets of the UK and France as separate entities.

Both companies have formed a strong relationship as they are already working together on the ITER international nuclear fusion research project in the south of France, having been selected last April as part of the Engage consortium to act as Building Architect Engineer.

Keith Clarke, Chief Executive of Atkins, explained: "Nuclear engineering is a key part of Atkins’ strategy going forward. The alliance with Assystem will give us a strong platform from which to deliver nuclear services to emerging international markets. The combination of our collective nuclear expertise will position us superbly to pursue opportunities in a broader array of markets with a wider range of services which go beyond our considerable presence in our own home markets."

(CD/KMcA)