Nuclear specialist selected to provide expertise at Cumbria radioactive waste site

Nuclear specialist Jacobs has been selected to provide its expertise at the UK’s national disposal facility for low-level radioactive waste in Cumbria, as part of a four-year deal.

Jacobs, which has operations in Cheshire and Manchester, was selected by LLW Repository as sole service provider on the Repository Infrastructure Framework.

The framework, effective from June 2020, covers a wide range of services to help LLWR manage the repository, in West Cumbria, on behalf of the Government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Jacobs’ support includes developing strategies for appropriate storage solutions, control and electronic systems enhancement and other technical services, all underpinned by core engineering design, construction and programme/project management capabilities.

Clive White, Jacobs’ critical mission solutions senior vice president, said: “We look forward to working with LLWR to provide long-term support and help position them as a recognised centre of excellence.

“Our multi-disciplinary approach will support the safe and effective management of the repository.

“Securing this framework also allows us to enhance our socio-economic contribution in West Cumbria, where we recently opened a new engineering development centre to develop innovative solutions and technologies that will enhance our work for LLWR.”

Chief executive of LLW Repository, Paul Pointon, said: “This procurement gives a secure platform to enable many of our critical support tasks and projects to be delivered for our current baseline of work.

“A collaborative contract of this type provides the flexibility we need to service demand and satisfy our many stakeholders.

“This is an exciting opportunity to combine the learning from our successful collaborative approach for delivering the decommissioning programme with the learning and experience that Jacobs can bring from their successful collaborative ventures demonstrated at other site license companies.”

With $13bn in revenue and a workforce of more than 55,000, NYSE-listed Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services, including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.