Contractors chosen for £485m asbestos framework

The government’s nuclear clean-up entity, Magnox, has chosen five firms for its Decommissioning and Asbestos Removal (DAR) scheme. 

There are two lots in the framework, and both will involve decommissioning, deplanting and asbestos removal works. 

Magnox has awarded contracts in both lots to Costain, Keltbray, and the Celadon Alliance, a partnership between Altrad Services, KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services and NSG Environmental. 

Kaefer UK & Ireland also secured a contract in lot one, and Nuvia secured a contract in lot two on behalf of Metis. 

The framework will run for an initial four years, with an option to extend for up to two. 

Full scope

A wide range of construction, demolition, and cleaning works are a part of the framework, including:

• Civil, mechanical, and electrical enabling works are required to support the scope of asbestos remediation, deplanting and demolition. 
• Deplanting of non-radiological buildings and equipment. 
• Bulk stripping, treatment, and stabilisation of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM). 
• Waste segregation, minimisation, and disposal via appropriate waste routes. 
• Environmental Cleaning.

Lot one will involve conventional deplanting, asbestos removal and demolition, whilst lot two will focus more on the same works in radiologically contaminated areas. 

Contractors will work on all 12 of Magnox’s sites, including ten reactor sites, two research sites, plus one hydroelectric plant. 

The specific site locations are Hinkley Point A, Oldbury, Berkeley, Trawsfynydd, Wylfa, Chapelcross, Hunterston A, Sizewell A, Dungeness A, Harwell and Winfrith. 

“Costain has been implementing innovative solutions to deal with legacy nuclear waste for over 20 years, and these awards build on our decommissioning heritage with Magnox,” said Sam White, managing director for the natural resources division at Costain. 

Keltbray’s CEO, Darren James, said: “Our role on both lots of the framework highlights Keltbray’s growing strengths in the design, delivery, maintenance and decommissioning of highly regulated UK legacy assets.”

Enjoyed this? Check out Bids open for the £3bn utility framework.