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Heavy lifting giant to bring modular efficiency to next-generation power plants
At the World Nuclear Exhibition 2025 in Paris, Mammoet and Electricité de France (EDF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that could reshape how nuclear power plants are built. The agreement, focused on future projects in the Netherlands, aims to streamline the construction process for new nuclear facilities and support Europe’s broader push toward carbon-neutral energy.
Building faster, cleaner, and smarter
The Dutch government is preparing to launch a new nuclear build program to meet growing energy demands while keeping sight of 2030 and 2050 climate goals. But nuclear construction is traditionally slow, complex, and expensive. That’s where Mammoet steps in.
The company has spent decades perfecting modular construction methods—techniques that allow large industrial plants to be built from pre-assembled components manufactured elsewhere. In simple terms, it’s a bit like assembling a ship from sections built in different ports. The pieces are delivered, positioned, and joined with precision, cutting months—sometimes years—from a build schedule.
Technology that moves megaprojects
Central to this partnership are Mammoet’s massive lifting and transport technologies. Among them is the SK6000, the world’s strongest land-based crane, capable of hoisting 6,000 tonnes. Such machinery allows multiple units of a power plant to rise in parallel rather than sequentially, all while drawing power from local electricity grids to reduce emissions.
Mammoet is also investing in sustainability across its equipment lineup. Its fleet of electric Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs)—those inch-perfect movers of massive structures—will enable heavy components to be positioned quietly and cleanly on-site.
Collaboration across expertise
For Joost Goderie, Mammoet’s CEO, this collaboration represents a clear step toward the future of energy construction:
“We are proud to be working directly with EDF to accelerate the carbon-neutral energy transition in Europe. Working together, we will significantly reduce the timescale needed to bring carbon-neutral facilities online, feeding our communities and economies.”
From EDF’s side, the sentiment is equally focused on efficiency and shared knowledge. Vakisasai Ramany, Senior Vice-President for International Nuclear Development at EDF, emphasized the strength of the partnership:
“By combining the knowledge of Europe’s largest nuclear operator with that of the leading expert in heavy lifting and transport engineering, we aim to deliver significant efficiency gains to nuclear energy, paving the way for a future Dutch nuclear programme.”
Proven experience in nuclear megaprojects
This isn’t Mammoet’s first collaboration with EDF. The Dutch firm has already supported the French energy giant at the Hinkley Point C project in the UK—one of Europe’s largest and most complex nuclear construction sites. There, Mammoet handled the installation of both Reactor Pressure Vessels and all steam generators, a feat that underscored its ability to deliver under immense technical pressure.
As nuclear power returns to the center of Europe’s clean energy strategy, partnerships like this one between EDF and Mammoet are setting the pace for how heavy-lift engineering can speed up the global energy transition—one massive component at a time.
