The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

LLWR contract signing marks historic day for NDA

17 April 2008

 

NDA and UK Nuclear Waste Management Ltd made history on Monday 31st March when they signed the contract for the management and operation of the Low Level Waste Repository, near Drigg in West Cumbria.

The contract was the first to be awarded by the NDA under its Energy Act 2004 requirement to compete sites. The contract award was the culmination of two years work.

NDA CEO, Dr Ian Roxburgh said it was a very stretching competition process that was fairly won. He was most impressed not only with the ideas produced by UKNWM Ltd but by the evidence they had to support those ideas from their raft of experience in the industry.

“It really is an exciting day for the NDA. The Energy Act has a simple requirement that we bring in world class teams to take our sites forward,” he said.

He described the UKNWM consortium as a “dream team” with their innovative approach the key. The winning bid would take 14% out of the lifetime plan costs for the low level waste repository. Through adopting the Waste Hierarchy principles and applying innovation, the new contractor’s proposals could extend the life of the LLW repository by 20 years. The contract which is initially for five years with options to extend up to a total of 17 years is worth between £200 and £500 million and also includes the development of a UK wide strategy for managing nuclear industry low level waste.

“I have no doubt that what I have seen in the UKNWM proposals is going to be delivered,” Ian said.

URS Washington Division is one of the largest nuclear waste programme contractors in the world; Studsvik has well recognised expertise in the nuclear waste management field; Areva is the world’s largest nuclear service provider and Serco Assurance has regulatory experience in the UK.

“This is a completely integrated team committed to the NDA’s objectives. There is a real sense of purpose that we are going to save UK taxpayers some significant money.”

He said UKWNW wishes to facilitate and develop the full potential of local skills.

Preston Rahe, Chairman UKNWM said he was honoured to sign the contract which was highly significant strategically. He said it represented a three-way partnership between UKNWM, the NDA and the local community.

“I am very mindful of our three main obligations which are:- to safely operate the site for the community and our employees; to embrace this as our community, we are going to work and live here; and, our partnership with the supply chain – we want to energise it and deliver the best value to the UK taxpayer,” he said.