15th Apr 2014 07:53
LONDON (Alliance News) - WS Atkins PLC Tuesday said it has been selected as preferred bidder on a contract to rebuild a nuclear waste handling plant at the Sellafield nuclear plant in the UK as part of a three-way joint venture with Areva Inc and Mace Group Ltd.
It didn't provide any financial details, but said the venture was split equally three ways.
The contract is with Sellafield Ltd under its silos direct-encapsulation project. A large and technically complex nuclear waster treatment plant that will handle radioactive liquid waste and mix it with other material to allow it to be stored in containers within existing Sellafield stores is being rebuilt.
"This contract represents another significant step in our journey to become one of the world's leading energy consultancies. Expanding Atkins' position in the nuclear market through strategic partnerships continues to deliver some excellent opportunities for the group," WS Atkins Chief Executive Uwe Krueger said in a statement.
The original silos direct encapsulation plant was constructed between 1995 and 2001, but work was halted when new information on the waste streams to be processed meant that a decision had to be taken to put the project on hold, according to Sellafield Ltd. The building was then placed in a care and maintenance regime.
In 2004 work was carried out on the new process options for the plant and in 2005 significant elements of the redundant plant and equipment were stripped out, in preparation for the new plant, Sellafield said.
"Construction of the plant is programmed to be completed in 2018, however accelerated programmes are looking to bring this forward," Sellafield says on its website.
WS Atkins shares were up 1.3% at 1,371 pence early Tuesday.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @SteveMcGrath1
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