Companies bidding to run £275m nuclear lab
Last updated 11:40, Friday, 25 July 2008
A COMPETITION to run the west Cumbrian-based National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has been launched by the Government.
Companies will be invited to bid to manage the facility, which includes the flagship £275m Central Laboratory at Sellafield, formerly the British Technology Centre.
A similar bidding process to the one for the contract to run Sellafield will be applied.
The decision is expected to be taken early next year so the new operators can take control before the start of the next financial year.
The NNL is designed to provide training, research and development and support for the UK’s nuclear industry, with an emphasis on decommissioning.
The then Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling announced the initiative two years ago.
But the go-ahead had been delayed while the Treasury examined the business case.
Nexia was told last month that Government had decided to officially endorse the project.
Dr Peter Bleasdale, managing director of Nexia Solutions, said: “Exciting times are ahead for all that work in and support the NNL.
“In the meantime, it’s business as usual for us as we develop the NNL during the competition process.
“It’s our objective to make sure we deliver a national lab that the nation can be proud of.”
The British Technology Centre was built eight years ago but many of its facilities have never been used.
It has unique high-active cells that allow operatives to test and characterise highly-radioactive material safely.
A plutonium and uranium centre, which will be protected by armed guards, is designed to make breakthroughs in MOX fuel production.
Breakthroughs have already been made including a “radball” that, when placed in contaminated space, can quantify and characterise radiation levels.
