EnergySolutions has welcomed the extension to its management and operation contract for 22 of the UK’s Magnox nuclear reactor fleet. The extension follows clarification from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) of its competition schedule for the remainder of its sites.
The NDA’s Business Plan, published at the end of March, points to the competition for its ten Magnox and two Research sites to begin in 2012 with a likely award in mid-2014.
Under the extension, EnergySolutions will continue with its full programme of activities across the ten sites. The work programme includes achieving the maximum possible value from the remaining generating reactors at Wylfa and Oldbury, the acceleration of the clean-up at two sites to put them into a Care and Maintenance state significantly ahead of schedule, and dealing with the remaining spent fuel on the sites to avoid leaving any legacy materials for future generations.
“We are pleased to continue our strategic partnership with the NDA to address the UK’s radioactive waste legacy,” said Val Christensen, president and CEO of EnergySolutions. “We will use this new timeframe to execute the innovative program we have developed with the NDA, including accelerating the achievement of early Care and Maintenance on two sites, helping to save in excess of £1 billion for UK taxpayers.”
EnergySolutions acquired the current Magnox contracts in June 2007. It will be bidding for the new contract, which will include the Magnox sites as well as Research Sites Restoration Ltd., which manages and operates the Harwell and Winfrith sites in the UK.
