Reports suggest US company Bechtel and Japan-based JGC Corporation are set to secure the lucrative engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for Hitachi’s £8bn Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant on the Isle of Anglesey.

An Hitachi spokesman told Construction News: “We can confirm we are in exclusive discussions with two companies – Bechtel and JGC Corporation – regarding a potential role in the EPC delivery team for Wylfa Newydd.” If successful, Bechtel and JGC Corporation are expected to work together on the project.

The Wylfa Newydd project, which is being developed through Hitachi subsidiary Horizon Nuclear Power, is expected to create up to 8,500 jobs during the construction phase and up to 1,000 jobs during operation.

Hitachi plan to build two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs) at the site – beside the existing Magnox nuclear power plant – generating 2,700MW of power.

The Hitachi spokesman added: “We can say that it is our intention to put together a delivery team which will build on our knowledge of deploying the ABWR, adding extensive global experience.

“This progress will also pave the way for significant involvement of UK firms throughout the supply chain.”

A Bechtel spokesperson said: “Although it’s premature to discuss specifics, we see great promise in joining the capabilities of Bechtel and Hitachi to deliver a new nuclear power station at Wylfa.

“Bechtel has completed complex megaprojects in the UK for 60 years and is currently completing construction of the first new nuclear generating unit this century in the United States.”

The first electricity generation at Wylfa Newydd is expected in the first half of the 2020s.