Canada’s SNC-Lavalin and US-based Holtec International group on 18 July announced a new US-based joint venture company, Comprehensive Decommissioning International (CDI) to be headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. This extends existing collaboration on the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) to include decommissioning activities.
CDI aims to bring the expertise of both companies together to ensure safe, rapid, and economic decommissioning of shuttered nuclear power stations, with a priority on "safety and environmental stewardship."
"Using innovative technologies, CDI is the best-equipped company to cut the total time elapsed to release plant sites for unrestricted use to eight years or fewer, pending local regulatory approvals (with the exception of the temporary dry storage installation)," SNC-Lavalin said in a statement
The ageing nuclear fleet and the rise in lower cost means of energy generation in the USA has meant that decommissioning has become “a rapid growth market with a forecast value exceeding $14bn over the next 10 years”. The safe dismantling of nuclear plants “requires complex project planning and project management, specialised nuclear skills, proven processes and innovative technologies”, the statement noted.
Pierre Oneid, Holtec’s senior vice-president and chief nuclear officer, said CDI’s vision is to become the leading decommissioning contractor in this market. Holtec’s president and CEO, Dr Kris Singh said Holtec would leverage its used fuel storage and transport expertise, now in use by 110 nuclear reactors around the world "to pave the way for… prompt decommissioning.”
SMR collaboration expanded
The previous day, after several months of negotiations, SNC-Lavalin and Holtec had signed a teaming agreement to assist in the development of Holtec’s SMR-160 small modular reactor. Under the agreement, SNC-Lavalin will provide Holtec with a range of nuclear engineering services supporting the licensing of the reactor.
The SMR-160 is a passive, intrinsically safe, secure and economical small modular reactor intended for use in remote locations, in areas with limited water supplies or land, and for unique industrial applications.
“Partnering with Holtec in the SMR-160 brings us a ‘walk away safe’ reactor design that will deliver a clean, affordable and reliable electricity supply satisfying regional and national state power needs," said Preston Swafford, SNC-Lavalin chief nuclear officer and executive vice-president, nuclear. "It is an ideal complement to our existing technology.”
SNC-Lavalin has over 60 years of reactor licensing, reactor engineering, nuclear plant design engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and operational support experience. The company is currently working on Candu reactor life extension projects Canada and Argentina.
“With SNC-Lavalin’s contribution of a high calibre cadre of experts, Holtec is poised to deliver on our SMR promise, to re-invigorate nuclear power for a world in dire need of a weather-independent and carbon-free source of energy,” said Dr Singh.
