Urenco Nuclear Stewardship provides waste-led decommissioning to the civil nuclear industry through experienced project management practices and waste-informed strategies. The decommissioning activities are integral to the UKs mission to safely and compliantly manage nuclear legacies. Our capabilities include:
Transitioning towards decommissioning: moving from nuclear operations to decommissioning.
Proven project management practices: carrying out large-scale projects for the industry.
CASE STUDY
Phased demolition of a former gaseous diffusion plant
Key Facts
Area of demolition
29,000m2
Duration
2010-Present
Decommissioning result
Future re-use
Tonnes of radioactive material disposed
22,000
Number of centrifuges
6 bays
The former Gaseous Diffusion Plant is part of a series of integrated facilities designed and constructed in the early 1950s at Urenco’s Capenhurst site in the UK. Production ceased in the early 1980s, and the site has since undergone a phased programme of refurbishment, decommissioning and demolition.
Through a series of dedicated campaigns, extensive radiological surveys and characterisation activities have been completed. These provide comprehensive data to inform planning and decision-making, enabling a safe, proportionate and risk-based approach to decommissioning.
Our work includes post operational clean out (POCO) activities, such as:
Isolation and removal of redundant plant and equipment
Re-routing and decommissioning of building services
Management of site communications systems and associated infrastructure
Our project teams bring over 30 years of experience in delivering POCO across progressively decommissioned facilities. All works are undertaken in line with current UK legislation and regulatory standards, ensuring safety, compliance and environmental responsibility.
Challenges and Solutions in Project Delivery Delivering decommissioning at a legacy nuclear facility presents a number of technical and operational challenges. Key activities include:
Safety case development and transition Updating and modifying the safety case to safely manage the transition from operations to decommissioning.
Waste management and environmental protection Identifying and implementing bulk disposal opportunities, including collaboration with the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR).
Security and design optimisation Maintaining a proportionate security strategy alongside practical and efficient design solutions.
Health, safety and environmental management Applying robust controls aligned with CDM 2015 Regulations, ensuring clear duty holder responsibilities and safe delivery.
Ageing infrastructure management Managing complex and poorly documented assets, including challenging service diversions.
Hazard identification and mitigation Safely managing a range of hazards, including: - Radiological and criticality risks - Biological hazards - Working at height - Asbestos-containing materials
Do you have a challenge or query?
Get in touch with our team who can discuss ways which we can cater for your decommissioning needs.
