Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 16, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleWestinghouse plans to expand its workforce in Spain, aiming to tap into the growing European market for its AP1000 nuclear reactors.
By Pietro Lombardi
MADRID, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Westinghouse Electric Company plans to hire hundreds of additional workers at its Spanish operations by the end of the decade as it eyes new markets in Europe for its AP1000 nuclear reactors, two senior company officials said on Monday.
European countries including Italy and Poland are looking to nuclear power as a way of helping decarbonise their economies, while Spain's largest utilities are seeking a review of plans to close all of its nuclear reactors by 2035.
Madrid is home to the U.S. company's main operations in Europe, employing some 1,200 workers at the end of 2024.
It plans to increase that number to around 1,500 by 2030, regardless of whether Spain maintains its planned phase-out, said Xavier Coll, the head of Westinghouse Electric's Spanish business.
The majority of the staff based in Spain focus on other European markets, meaning staffing levels were not ultimately affected by the fate of the country's nuclear sector, he told journalists at the presentation of a new simulator to train those working with the AP1000 reactors.
There are 14 units of the company's AP1000 reactor model currently under construction in China and 14 units under contract in Poland, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
"We see a very strong demand especially in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe in terms of new units," said Luca Oriani, global head of Westinghouse Electric's new reactor business.
"We have a number of additional countries besides the ones listed that are performing what are called front-end engineering studies, which is the preparation of licensing and application" for new units, he said.
(Reporting by Pietro Lombardi; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Nuclear power is energy produced from nuclear reactions, primarily through the process of nuclear fission, where atomic nuclei are split to release energy.
Job creation refers to the process of generating new employment opportunities, often through business expansion, economic growth, or new market developments.
Engineering studies involve the analysis and design processes necessary for developing new technologies or systems, often including feasibility assessments and project planning.
Sustainability in energy refers to the development and use of energy sources that meet current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
AP1000 nuclear reactors are advanced pressurized water reactors designed by Westinghouse, known for their safety features and efficiency in generating electricity.
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