CDI will be responsible for decommissioning, demolishing and cleaning up the single-reactor facility beginning this year,
CDI joint venture secures deal to decommission Massachusetts’ Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. (Credit: Markus Distelrath from Pixabay)
Comprehensive Decommissioning International (CDI), a joint venture company of SNC-Lavalin and Holtec International, has been awarded its second commercial contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to decommission the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Under the contract with Holtec, CDI will be responsible for decommissioning, demolishing and cleaning up the single-reactor facility beginning this year, now that site ownership has transferred to Holtec from Entergy Corporation. Pilgrim joins Oyster Creek as CDI’s second decommissioning project. SNC-Lavalin will report the related services revenues under SNCL Engineering Services.
“CDI is pleased to welcome 270 former Pilgrim station employees to the project,” said Kelly Trice, President, CDI. “Their knowledge of the local community and the single-reactor Pilgrim plant, coupled with CDI’s approach to beginning the decommissioning process now will ensure we restore the site for re-use in the safest and shortest possible time.”
Using innovative technologies, CDI aims to safely and efficiently decommission and dismantle the facility decades earlier than would have otherwise been the case. Within a few years of the plant’s shutdown, used nuclear fuel will be placed in structurally impregnable dry storage systems, which is unprecedented in the history of decommissioning nuclear plants. Finally, upon completion, the vast majority of the 1,700 acre site will be rendered fit for commercial/industrial use.
“This project further illustrates the breadth of SNC-Lavalin’s expertise across the entire nuclear fuel cycle. In line with our strategy, it continues and builds on the momentum for a busy and active future for CDI in reactor decommissioning,” said Sandy Taylor, President, Nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. “While we are strong proponents for the future of carbon-free, nuclear power around the world, through the industry-leading expertise and technologies that we bring to nuclear new build opportunities and through our life-extending refurbishment projects, the efficient and safe decommissioning of reactors and restoration of sites for further use is a key component to maintain public confidence in our industry and is a significant part of our business.”
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the transfer of the Pilgrim licence from Entergy to Holtec and plant ownership was transferred in August 2019. Agreements are also in place between Holtec and Entergy for its US Indian Point, NY, Palisades, MI nuclear units, in which CDI will be the Decommissioning General Contractor, following each plant’s closure.
SNC-Lavalin and Holtec’s decommissioning history gives CDI more than a half century of experience managing complex projects in both the commercial and government nuclear sectors worldwide. Coupled with strong project planning and management, this will result in a predictable decommissioning program. The nuclear business, along with EDPM, remains a key pillar in SNC-Lavalin’s growth platform.
Source: Company Press Release