Magnox awards multiple suppliers under £485m contact as it continues with its UK nuclear decommissioning programme

MAGNOX, which is responsible for the safe and secure cleanup of 12 nuclear sites across the UK, has awarded suppliers including Costain, Kaefer UK and Ireland, and Nuvia, a place in a framework contract to help complete its decommissioning programme. The contract is for up to six years and has a total estimated value of £485m (US$622.6m).

The scope of the Decommissioning and Asbestos Removal (DAR) framework comprises deplanting, removal of carcinogenic asbestos, and demolition in both conventional and radiologically contaminated environments. Conventional facilities are covered by the framework as Lot 1, while contaminated sites fall into Lot 2.

Civil engineering company Costain is amongst those awarded for both Lots 1 and 2. The others are Keltbray, which offers services including demolition, decommissioning, and remediation; and the Celadon Alliance, formed to bid for work in the Magnox decommissioning programme. The alliance is a collaboration between Altrad Support Services, KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services, and NSG Environmental. Kaefer, which provides technical industrial services, was contracted for Lot 1. Nuvia was awarded work on Lot 2 on behalf of Metis, an alliance that provides services to the nuclear industry. Nuvia’s partners in Metis are Rainham Industrial Services and Hughes and Salvidge.

The suppliers’ will be under contract for at least four years, with the option to extend by up to two.

Their work will contribute to the cleanup of the UK’s nuclear waste, while reducing the environmental impact of the sites and helping to deliver on the strategic goals of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Sole owner of Magnox, the NDA is charged with the safe, secure, and cost-effective cleanup of the UK’s earliest nuclear sites. It owns the 12 UK sites that are being cleaned up, which include 10 reactor sites and two research facilities.

Paul Winkle, COO of Magnox, said that the framework contract builds on the success of a previous one, and is a key collaborative tool that provides an efficient and cost-effective way to decommission, demolish, and reuse redundant buildings.

“Magnox cleaned up 23,000 m² of asbestos and created a 7,400 m² demolition footprint last year – that’s the collective size of 45 tennis courts. This is a significant achievement for the company and all the supply chain partners involved. We’re looking to deliver even more this year and the new framework contract will simplify the procurement process to do that.”