A Babcock and Bechtel joint venture - Bechtel Babcock Nuclear
Solutions (BBNS) - has been awarded the contract for the Pile Fuel
Cladding Silo Retrieval Project, Silo Doors & Retrieval Modules
(SDRM) by Sellafield Ltd, the company responsible for safely
delivering decommissioning, reprocessing, nuclear waste management
and fuel manufacturing activities on behalf of the Nuclear
Decommissioning Authority.
Retrieval of the fuel cladding and other intermediate level
waste from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo is a high priority project
for Sellafield Ltd. Babcock has direct experience of the SDRM
preliminary design from its work in the Accord Alliance, as well as
the Box Encapsulation Plant Product Store (BEPPS), giving it a full
understanding of how the SDRMs fit into the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo
programme.
The SDRM contract covers detail design, procurement,
manufacture, works testing, delivery to site, installation and
commissioning of silo doors and retrieval and waste handling
modules, together with a hole cutting system.
The project, with a total expected value of £120-150 million,
involves three phases over a period of around six years. Phase 1,
starting almost immediately and lasting six months, will involve
mobilisation and project familiarisation. Phase 2, starting in the
autumn of 2011 will see completion of the design, specifications,
procurement packages and safety case support. This will be followed
by Phase 3 covering procurement, manufacture, works testing,
construction, installation and commissioning.
The BBNS team brings a strong combination of skills and
expertise from two nuclear industry leaders, fully integrated to
deliver the SDRM project successfully.
Babcock brings extensive experience of the Sellafield site and
its requirements, processes, systems and site working
characteristics, and has a track record of working with Sellafield
Ltd effectively, in partnership.
Bechtel brings fresh perspectives and extensive learning from
experience of US DoE nuclear sites, with experience at Hanford,
Oakridge and Savannah River.
The BBNS team has the in-house capabilities and high level
technical expertise to perform the full scope of work, plus the
project management and integration skills to work safely and
effectively on the complex, highly regulated Sellafield site and
complete the project successfully.
Babcock Managing Director Nuclear, Roger Hardy, commented: "We
are delighted to have been awarded this significant project
contract. Our team will integrate fully with Sellafield Ltd's own,
combining a successful Sellafield site delivery track record, world
class project management, and experience in the design, procurement
and logistics associated with major modules. With BBNS Sellafield
Ltd has a highly capable team supported by extensive resources and
experience. We look forward to building further on our relationship
with Sellafield Ltd, and working together to deliver this critical
project right first time, on-schedule, in-budget, and in full
compliance with all safety and quality standards."