French nuclear power group Areva, in consortium with URS's Washington Division, Studsvik UK and Serco Assurance, has signed a five-year contract to manage and operate the UK's low level nuclear waste repository located in West Cumbria in northwest England.
This is the first contract for the operation of a nuclear site awarded by the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) since it was established in 2005.
Valued at E160 million for the consortium, the contract can be extended for periods of up to 17 years representing a cumulative value of up to E650 million.
The contract also covers the implementation of a national strategy to manage additional low level waste expected to be generated by the NDA’s decommissioning of 20 nuclear facilities across the country.
Areva is also a member of Nuclear Management Partners, one of the consortia currently bidding for the management of the Sellafield nuclear complex. Its partners are URS’s Washington Division and Amec. The result of the competition is expected to be announced in late-2008.