WOOD has won a contract to support work on the development of a new nuclear plant on Anglesey.

The Aberdeen-based engineering giant said it has been appointed as architect engineering support partner on the Wylfa Newydd plant by the developer of the facility Hitachi Nuclear Energy Europe, without disclosing the value of the contract.

Wood said the appointment is expected to transition into a 10-year framework, extending up to the start of commercial operations, once the two reactor project passes further key milestones in 2019.

Hitachi aims to secure first electricity generation at Wylfa Newydd in the mid 2020s. It expects the plant to provide enough power for millions of homes.

Bob MacDonald, who heads Wood’s specialist technical solutions business, said the company was looking forward to working with Hitachi on a project that is important to the future energy security of the UK.

Wood has increased its exposure to industries such as nuclear energy amid a drive to reduce its reliance on the North Sea oil services market.