Five companies have been chosen for a framework contract for the decommissioning and removal of asbestos (DAR) at the Magnox nuclear facilities.
Contracts for lots 1 and 2 have been awarded to Costain, Keltbray and the Celadon Alliance, a collaboration between Altrad Support Services, KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services and NSG Environmental.
Kaefer UK & Ireland secured a contract for Lot 1, while Nuvia secured a contract for Lot 2.
Magnox Ltd is responsible for the closure of 12 nuclear sites and one hydroelectric power station on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
Magnox chief operating officer Paul Winkle said the framework “will provide an efficient and cost-effective route to market to decommission, demolish or re-use redundant buildings”.
Winkle added that last year, Magnox cleared 23,000 square meters of asbestos and created a demolition footprint of 7,400 square metres. He said the new DAR framework will simplify the procurement process to deliver “even more this year”.
Keltbray said it will operate at all 10 reactors, two research sites and one hydroelectric plant operated by Magnox.
The company said the framework was initially for four years, with options to extend for up to two more years. It covers demolition and deplantation, cleanup of the turbine room, and removal and treatment of radioactively contaminated plants.
Keltbray chief executive Darren James said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Magnox to meet their requirements to safely deliver these site closure programmes, which are of huge national importance.”
Sam White, managing director of Costain’s natural resources division, commented: “Our previous work on the Magnox fleet has been instrumental in moving the sites towards care and maintenance, essentially fuel wear, decommissioning and the creation of safe stores. This work represents an important milestone along the decommissioning journey towards an eventual final cleanup of the site.”
In 2020, the National Audit Office said the estimated cost of bringing the Magnox sites into the care and maintenance stage of nuclear decommissioning had risen to £2.7 billion since 2017. It added that the best estimate placed the eventual costs to the taxpayer at £7.5. bn
