Ukraine’s nuclear utility Energoatom, which is part of the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine, has opened a tender for consultancy services on the development of nuclear fuel containing material (FCM) removal technologies and procedures under the Chernobyl Shelter Implementation Plan (SIP). Energoatom will use part of the proceeds of a grant from the Chernobyl Shelter Fund administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) towards the cost of the consultancy. The work will involve conceptual investigations to develop a FCM removal and waste management strategy, and conceptual design for a demonstration of FCM removal from the Chernobyl sarcophagus. The assignment is expected to start in January 2002 and to last approximately 10 months. Consultant firms from the Chernobyl Shelter Fund eligible countries are asked to initially submit “expressions of interest” and a shortlist of qualified firms will then be formally invited to submit proposals. Eligible countries include Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA, and the EBRD’s countries of operation.
