Japanese steelmaker Sumitomo Metals Industries Ltd (Sumitomo) and Sumitomo Cooperation have announced the receipt of an order from US-based Westinghouse Electric Corporation for the supply of approximately 750,000 mt steam generator tubes ("SG tubes").
The steam generator tubes in question will be used in the AP1000 reactor, an advanced nuclear reactor developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. This is the world's first order for SG tubes to be used in an AP1000 reactor.
Demand for SG tubes is set to increase rapidly due to the rising demand for the construction of nuclear power plants. In this context, the three suppliers of this product - Sumitomo Metals (Japan), Sandvik AB (Sweden), and Valinox Nucleaire (France) - are expected to increase their production capacities.
For its part, Sumitomo Metals has already decided to invest in the modernization of its production equipment for SG tubes and in the expansion of production capacity.
Sumitomo Metals has also announced the receipt of a preliminary order from US-based Plant Vogtle for a supply of SG tubes to be used in the AP1000 at the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant, Units 3 and 4.