The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has named the Cavendish Fluor Partnership (CFP) preferred bidder for a £7BN contract to clean up old Magnox nuclear power stations and other nuclear sites.
Under the contract CFP, a joint venture between Cavendish Nuclear and Fluor Corporation, will take ownership of the Magnox Ltd and Research Sites Restoration Ltd (RSRL) nuclear decommissioning sites, taking them into the final stages of decommissioning.
Magnox Ltd is responsible for decommissioning 10 Magnox reactor sites, located in England, Scotland and Wales while RSRL is responsible for two pioneering nuclear research centres at Harwell and Winfrith. Only one of the nuclear power stations is still generating electricity, Wylfa, but it is scheduled to close this year. Other nuclear power stations to be decommissioned under the contract include Hinkley, Sizewell and Dungeness, generating a large amount of job opportunities in the energy sector.
The NDA says it will save at least £1BN in the decommissioning programme of the 12 nuclear sites over a 14 year period. NDA Chief Executive John Clarke said: "The selection of CFP as the preferred bidder is a significant step in our drive to attract world class management and innovation to our sites.”
The successful bid was selected after a two year procurement process from four tender submissions which were evaluated against a range of criteria including cost, health, safety and security, underpinning technical rationale, commercial terms and approach to socio economics.
"We have undergone a comprehensive and rigorous process aimed at securing the best possible parent body for these challenging sites. CFP bring a successful track record and extensive nuclear experience that will bring enormous benefits to the decommissioning and clean up programme," Mr Clarke added.
Cavendish Nuclear Managing Director Roger Hardy said: “Being selected as preferred bidder is a fantastic achievement. The Cavendish Fluor Partnership brings together outstanding international decommissioning, operational and site management expertise and we look forward to working with the Magnox and RSRL teams to deliver the sites’ programmes safely and cost effectively.”
The parties will now enter a mandatory five month standstill period while the contract is finalised and legal processes are completed. Following successful transition, CFP will become the new Parent Body Organisation and take ownership via the transfer of shares on 1 September.
