The energy giant which runs a Lancashire nuclear fuel factory has failed in its bid to build two new power stations.
Westinghouse, which operates the Springfields Fuels site at Salwick, near Preston, lost out to Japanese giant Hitachi in the race to buy Horizon Nuclear Power.
It means it will not build its AP1000 reactor at sites at Wylfa in Anglesey or Oldbury, Gloucestershire.
The deal would have guaranteed up to a century of work for the nearly 1,000 workers at the Lancashire fuel factory and seen Westinghouse ramp up its head office at Buckshaw Village, near Chorley.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Hitachi said it expected up to 6,000 jobs to be created during construction at each site, with a further 1,000 permanent jobs at both locations once operational.
President Hiroaki Nakanishi said: “Today starts our 100 year commitment to the UK and its vision to achieve a long-term, secure, low-carbon, and affordable energy supply.
“We look forward to working harmoniously with UK companies and stakeholders for the delivery of this vital part of Britain’s national infrastructure and the creation of a strong UK nuclear power company.”
Hitachi has bought Horizon from German utility giants RWE and E.ON, which put it up for sale after a policy u-turn in Germany following last year’s disaster in Fukushima.
Westinghouse was leading the race to have its AP1000 reactor technology selected by the former owners.
It is one of only two reactor builders, alongside French firm Areva, to have its technology approved by UK regulators to be built as part of the country’s nuclear renaissance.
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