Case Study 13. Contract End and Transition
Updated 3 June 2021
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It鈥檚 said that all good things must pass, and on 12th July, 2021, the PBO (UKNWM), which has brought about momentous changes in the low level radioactive waste industry over the past 13 years will depart, and LLWR will become a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
The NDA has plans to enable LLWR to build on the firm foundations developed under the PBO鈥檚 stewardship since 2008, when the UK鈥檚 low level waste industry was in a perilous position.
Disposal capacity was down to below 400 containers, at a time when the nuclear decommissioning programme was generating more than 700 containers per year.
The solution? The award of a 17-year Management and Operations contract to UKNWM, an international consortium comprising Amentum, Studsvik and Orano.
Their brief was to provide solutions that ensured business continuity and created long-term sustainability whilst continuing to serve the needs of both the NDA decommissioning programme and UK-wide radioactive waste producers.
Over recent weeks we have explained how the PBO set about revolutionising the industry, and the results speak for themselves.
Highlights include a 100-year extension to the life of the LLW Repository, avoiding the cost for a second repository estimated at over 拢2 billion and implementation of the National Waste Programme, resulting in estate-wide cost savings of 拢500 million. But as one glorious chapter in LLWR鈥檚 history ends, another begins, one ripe with possibilities and opportunities.
The transition to subsidiary status will be followed in 2022 by LLWR joining with Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) to form a new waste division, within NDA, harnessing the wealth of experience from both organisations under one umbrella.
The move to becoming a subsidiary will enable LLWR to best utilise the 鈥極ne NDA鈥� approach and maximise opportunities and support within the larger group.
Whilst the new waste division will build on LLWR鈥檚 success by creating further opportunities for waste diversion and opening new waste routes.
Numerous strategic and operational benefits will create a focal point for the management of radioactive waste in the UK.
Preparations are, of course, well underway for a particularly busy spell. But to LLWR and its talented workforce, change is nothing new.
The first steps on our new Journey To Success are about to be taken.