News Releases

TOKYO-Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) and its Charlotte-based subsidiary Toshiba America Nuclear Energy Corporation (TANE) today announced that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) commissioners have authorized issuance of the combined licenses (COLs) for South Texas Project Units 3 and 4 (STP 3&4) in response to Nuclear Innovation North America LLC’s (NINA) application. The COLs will authorize the construction and operation of NINA’s proposed two-unit expansion of the South Texas Project nuclear power plant southwest of Bay City, Texas based on the provisions thereof. The COLs are based upon Toshiba’s application of the Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) design that was certified by the NRC in 1997. Four ABWRs have been built and are operational in Japan. All were built under budget and on schedule.

The license review process began with the initial submittal of an application to the NRC in 2007. In 2009 NINA selected TANE as its engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the ABWRs at STP 3&4. Since that time, Toshiba and TANE have supported NINA in its licensing and ongoing development efforts.

In the course of this first review of the ABWR for use in the United States, the NRC reviewed all aspects of the ABWR’s technology, safety, and environmental compatibility as proposed for deployment at STP 3&4, including new improvements in response to lessons learned from the event at Fukushima Daiichi.

This is the third set of COLs authorized for technology developed by the Toshiba Group, following COLs issued for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Units 3 and 4 (Vogtle 3&4) and Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station Units 2 and 3 (Summer 2&3). Vogtle 3&4 and Summer 2&3 utilize Westinghouse Electric Company’s (a Toshiba subsidiary) new advanced pressurized water reactor (PWR), the AP1000™. This COL authorization is important to Toshiba not only for the STP 3&4 project in the United States, but also abroad as it supports promotion of nuclear projects in many countries that look to the NRC as a leader in nuclear safety and security regulation.

In the U.S., nuclear energy provides more than 62% of America's carbon-free electricity and supports more than 475,000 jobs. Around the world, nuclear power is expected to continue growing in baseload applications, particularly given its beneficial energy security attributes, and its ability to produce near zero emission electricity, steam, and heat. Toshiba Group actively participates in the review of international safety assessment and equipment standards, continuously reflecting the findings into its new plant design and existing plant improvements. Toshiba and its subsidiaries are committed to the further improvement of nuclear plant safety.

Because of current economic drivers in Texas and other related issues, NINA is not planning to immediately commence construction of STP 3&4.