The firm running the giant nuclear site at Sellafield has had its contract extended.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said Nuclear Management Partners, a consortium comprising of URS, AMEC and Areva, will have its contract extended into a second five year period.
The first five year period of the 17 year contract comes to an end in March 2014.
“Sellafield is by far the most complex and challenging site in our portfolio, and we are determined to drive improved performance at the site,” said John Clarke, NDA chief executive.
“We have reviewed progress under the contract to date and concluded that the right decision is to extend the contract to give NMP further time to bring about the improvements in capability and performance at the site that we and they are looking for.
“Both NMP and the NDA now have a much better understanding of the issues and complexities that exist at the site and the challenges that lie ahead. Whilst progress is being made on a number of fronts we will require significant improvements during the next period.
“We will continue to monitor performance closely and remain focused on achieving our goal of safe, effective, value for money decommissioning at Sellafield – as we are seeing elsewhere across our portfolio of sites.”
Energy minister Baroness Verma said that the site remained the government’s “top priority in our nuclear decommissioning programme”.
In response to the news, the unions agreed the government needed to develop a strategy for the UK nuclear industry.
“We want the Government to start talking to us about a proper strategy for the nuclear industry in the UK, with Sellafield at its centre. It is imperative that the NDA and Government stop trying to kick the can down the road and lead the community and workforce by the nose,” said Gary Smith, national officer of the GMB union.
“Unite is now looking forward to a genuine improvement in relations between management and the unions which have been problematic in the past,” said Kevin Coyne, Unite national officer.
“MNP must now co-operate with the workforce to deliver on its commitments because Sellafield is strategically important to the UK and it is crucial for the economic survival of Cumbria.”
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