Former Areva Projects boss Eric Chassard has been appointed as the project director for the construction of Hitachi’s £10bn Wylfa nuclear power plant in Anglesey.

Mr Chassard has been brought in to lead the project’s Menter Newydd delivery team, a joint venture between Hitachi, Bechtel and Japanese firm JGC.

He joins Menter Newydd from nuclear reactor manufacturer Areva, where he was senior executive vice-president of its New Areva business and chairman and CEO of Areva Projects.

Mr Chassard’s role will be to lead the development of a costed construction schedule for the nuclear plant, which is expected to be operational by the mid-2020s.

Hitachi completed a crucial milestone last month when it passed the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s generic design assessment, paving the way for its ABWR reactor to be used at the site.

The Wylfa project is set to see more than 8,000 workers on site at peak construction and will provide enough power for around five million homes when operational.

Mr Chassard said: “Phenomenal work is being done to add depth and clarity to the plans we are developing for Horizon – which will provide a stable, long-term footing as we move ever closer toward construction of Wylfa Newydd.

“Leading a team of this calibre, on a project of this importance, is a great opportunity, as we work to secure the energy supplies and industrial futures of Wales and the wider UK.”