31 Mar (NucNet): The UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has signed a contract for the management and operation of the low-level waste repository near Drigg in north-west England, with UK Nuclear Waste Management, a consortium led by URS Corporation’s Washington Division and including Studsvik, Areva and Serco Assurance.
The initial contract is for five years with the potential of further extension periods up to a total of 17 years. The contract is worth between 200 million pounds (GBP) (396 million US dollars, 251 million euro) and GBP 500 million.
The awarding of the contract marks the end of a two year process and also the completion of the first in a series of competitions for NDA sites as required under the UK’s Energy Act 2004.
The NDA said in August 2007 that the UK Nuclear Waste Management consortium was its preferred bidder.
The NDA said proposals to reduce costs at the repository will deliver savings of over GBP 100 million while “innovative technical proposals” aimed at delivering a 20 percent reduction in the UK’s low-level waste liability could result in savings of up to GBP 1 billion.
NDA chief executive officer Ian Roxburgh said the contract is significant because it is not only for the management and operation of the existing repository but also covers the development of a UK wide strategy for managing nuclear industry low-level waste.
Dick Raaz, managing director of UK Nuclear Waste Management, said: “UKNWM brings together a group of companies with world-beating experience in nuclear waste management. We look forward to bringing our experience and technology to bear on the UK’s extensive legacy of low level nuclear waste.”
Contact the editor on this report david.dalton@worldnuclear.org
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Washington Group Consortium Is ‘Preferred Bidder’ For Drigg (World Nuclear Review No. 33, 17 August 2007)
UK Clean-Up Body Set To Conclude Drigg Management Contract (News in Brief No. 1, 2 January 2008)
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