The decommissioning of one of Sellafield's oldest nuclear plants has taken a giant step forward due to the awarding of three waste retrieval contracts worth more than £160 million.

The contracts, awarded to Sir Robert McAlpine, Bechtel Babcock Nuclear Services and Clarke Chapman Group, will help to ensure that decommissioning the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo forms a key part of the accelerated programme on the site while safeguarding hundreds of local jobs throughout the supply chain.


The work will underpin the decommissioning of the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo which is almost 60 years old and contains over 4000 cubic metres of historic radioactive waste

Keith Case, Commercial Director said: "These are very important contracts that will be of great benefit to the local community. We know that the companies who have been awarded this work are committed to Cumbria and will make significant use of the supply chain in this area.

"As a result of these contracts, Babcock has significantly enlarged its local office in Cumbria, while Bechtel has opened new premises. It is the stated mission of Sellafield Ltd, together with our owners and operators, Nuclear Management Partners in agreement with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, to deliver an accelerated reduction of the high-hazard facilities on the site in a cost effective and safe manner."

(CD/KMcA)