Stainless Metalcraft, part of Avingtrans PLC’s Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment division, and Sellafield Limited have mutually agreed to exercise the option, to enter into the second phase of the contract to provide high integrity stainless steel storage boxes for Sellafield.
The 3M3 (three metre cubed) box contract is now worth up to £70m and represents around £20m uplift to the original contract awarded in 2015. The agreement to exercise the option marks Metalcraft’s successful transition to the second phase of the 3M3 box work with Sellafield.
The 3M3 boxes will be used to store intermediate level waste (ILW) retrieved from silos at legacy locations in Cumbria.
“Retrieval of wastes from Sellafield’s legacy ponds and silos is nationally important work," said Susan Lussem, supply chain director, Sellafield Ltd.
“Moving the waste into modern storage will mean a huge reduction in the UK’s nuclear hazard, but before we can remove the waste, we have to be confident we have somewhere safe to put it and that we have a reliable supply of containers for decades to come.”
Metalcraft said it will be producing circa 1000 boxes over phase two of the programme, which is expected to take six years. The containers will store radioactive wastes retrieved from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS) and Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS) at the site in Cumbria.
“Moving on to phase two of the contract is just reward for the hard work and expertise the team has put into developing the 3M3 programme over the last five years," said Austen Adams, managing director of Avingtrans’ Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment division.
“Having proven the technology and manufacturing processes involved, we are now in a position to ramp up production and begin the transition towards volume production, which will enable us to support Sellafield in this essential decommissioning work over the coming years."
Photo: The 3 metre cubed boxes (Source: Sellafield Ltd)
