This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7733487.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
BNFL is history as consortium steps in BNFL is history as consortium steps in
(2 days later)
By Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News, Sellafield AdvertisementBy Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News, Sellafield Advertisement
How to dismantle Sellafield - a day with the plant's decommissioning managerHow to dismantle Sellafield - a day with the plant's decommissioning manager
In a grand old house on the outskirts of Whitehaven in Cumbria, a small team of international managers are preparing to take on the task of cleaning up the most intricate nuclear complex in the world.In a grand old house on the outskirts of Whitehaven in Cumbria, a small team of international managers are preparing to take on the task of cleaning up the most intricate nuclear complex in the world.
Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) - a consortium representing companies from the US, France and the UK - has been awarded a multi-billion pound contract that could turn into the biggest procurement deal ever signed by the UK government.Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) - a consortium representing companies from the US, France and the UK - has been awarded a multi-billion pound contract that could turn into the biggest procurement deal ever signed by the UK government.
Nuclear Management Partners are taking charge of Sellafield
The task ahead: to sort out the mess left behind after more than half a century of nuclear energy and weapons production at Sellafield.The task ahead: to sort out the mess left behind after more than half a century of nuclear energy and weapons production at Sellafield.
"We want to make a difference," says NMP's managing director Bob Pedde."We want to make a difference," says NMP's managing director Bob Pedde.
"We are committed to reducing site hazards cost-effectively, through clean-up and decommissioning, while maximizing commercial value.""We are committed to reducing site hazards cost-effectively, through clean-up and decommissioning, while maximizing commercial value."
NMP's appointment marks the end of British Nuclear Fuels, better known as BNFL, the monolithic government body that for years was synonymous with the UK nuclear industry.NMP's appointment marks the end of British Nuclear Fuels, better known as BNFL, the monolithic government body that for years was synonymous with the UK nuclear industry.
Big clean-up billBig clean-up bill
Currently, neither weapons nor electricity is produced at the Sellafield site, though income is earned from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.Currently, neither weapons nor electricity is produced at the Sellafield site, though income is earned from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
Nuclear Management Partners are taking charge of Sellafield
That income partially subsidises the main job at hand, namely the decommissioning of the old nuclear fuel reprocessing plants and nuclear power generators - including the world's first commercial nuclear power plant, Calder Hall.That income partially subsidises the main job at hand, namely the decommissioning of the old nuclear fuel reprocessing plants and nuclear power generators - including the world's first commercial nuclear power plant, Calder Hall.
It is just the first in a series of clean-ups of decommissioned nuclear power stations across Britain, which could cost between £72bn and £100bn and take several decades to complete. Sellafield's skyline is slowly changing
It is just the first in a series of clean-ups of decommissioned nuclear power stations across Britain, which could cost between £72bn and £100bn and take several deades to complete.
Most of the UK-wide nuclear cleanup bill will be paid for by tax payers through the government agency Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which owns the sites.Most of the UK-wide nuclear cleanup bill will be paid for by tax payers through the government agency Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which owns the sites.
Environmental restorationEnvironmental restoration
Much has already happened at the sprawling Sellafield site.Much has already happened at the sprawling Sellafield site.
Nuclear Management Partners URS Washington, Areva and Amec make up the consortiumIt takes over the management of Sellafield on Monday 24 November 2008The contract to dismantle old nuclear power and reprocessing plants lasts five years but could be extended to 17 yearsThe decommissioning costs £1.3bn per year To make profits, NMP will have to improve working practices to make savingsThe company says jobs are safeNuclear Management Partners URS Washington, Areva and Amec make up the consortiumIt takes over the management of Sellafield on Monday 24 November 2008The contract to dismantle old nuclear power and reprocessing plants lasts five years but could be extended to 17 yearsThe decommissioning costs £1.3bn per year To make profits, NMP will have to improve working practices to make savingsThe company says jobs are safe
The distinct cooling towers have been demolished and other high-rise buildings are slowly being picked apart - in some cases, brick by brick - gradually changing the site's famous skyline.The distinct cooling towers have been demolished and other high-rise buildings are slowly being picked apart - in some cases, brick by brick - gradually changing the site's famous skyline.
"Sellafield is an environmental restoration project", insists Ian Hudson, Sellafield programme director at the NDA."Sellafield is an environmental restoration project", insists Ian Hudson, Sellafield programme director at the NDA.
These days, much of the work is being carried out by contractors.These days, much of the work is being carried out by contractors.
NMA's arrival completes a gradual shift from the state to the private sector.NMA's arrival completes a gradual shift from the state to the private sector.
"What people haven't cottoned on to is this huge cultural change in the nuclear industry," says Mr Hudson."What people haven't cottoned on to is this huge cultural change in the nuclear industry," says Mr Hudson.
Taking chargeTaking charge
Back in NMP's offices, the light, modern furniture looks out of place in the traditional surroundings.Back in NMP's offices, the light, modern furniture looks out of place in the traditional surroundings.
The shelves contain little other than a few folders. A few bags of corporate Christmas presents are stashed in a corner.The shelves contain little other than a few folders. A few bags of corporate Christmas presents are stashed in a corner.
But NMP director Bob Pedde will be gone long before Christmas. But NMP's Mr Pedde will be gone long before Christmas.
Decommission work is tough and can be dangerous
He and his directors are relocating to considerably grittier surroundings at Sellafield, where they will replace the current management team and take charge of a 10,000 strong workforce, plus some 2,000 contractors.He and his directors are relocating to considerably grittier surroundings at Sellafield, where they will replace the current management team and take charge of a 10,000 strong workforce, plus some 2,000 contractors.
The work is challenging, not least because buildings and structures cannot simply be demolished until contaminated concrete and other materials have been safely removed.The work is challenging, not least because buildings and structures cannot simply be demolished until contaminated concrete and other materials have been safely removed.
Making matters even trickier is the way age and exposure to acids used to reprocess spent fuel are causing the buildings to crumble.Making matters even trickier is the way age and exposure to acids used to reprocess spent fuel are causing the buildings to crumble.
In many cases buildings and other structures must be strengthened before decommissioning work can start.In many cases buildings and other structures must be strengthened before decommissioning work can start.
Long term commitmentLong term commitment
The Decommissioning Agency has initially signed up NMP for five years, though the initial £6.5bn contract might be extended until 2030.The Decommissioning Agency has initially signed up NMP for five years, though the initial £6.5bn contract might be extended until 2030.
Decommission work is tough and can be dangerous The Sellafield site is complex and hazardous
"The contract is designed to last for 17 years in five-year increments and we intend to be there for the long-term," says NMP's Mr Pedde. "The contract is designed to last for 17 years in five-year increments and we intend to be there for the long-term," says Mr Pedde.
Under the deal, the consortium - which is made up of URS Washington from the US, Areva from France and Amec from the UK - will take over BNFL's share of and run Sellafield Ltd.Under the deal, the consortium - which is made up of URS Washington from the US, Areva from France and Amec from the UK - will take over BNFL's share of and run Sellafield Ltd.
Hence, it is Sellafield Ltd that will receive the money to pay for the gradual dismantling and clean-up of the facilities on the Sellafield, Calder Hall, Windscale and Capenhurst sites.Hence, it is Sellafield Ltd that will receive the money to pay for the gradual dismantling and clean-up of the facilities on the Sellafield, Calder Hall, Windscale and Capenhurst sites.
Savings from improved working practices will go into a "fee pool" that will be controlled by the NDA.Savings from improved working practices will go into a "fee pool" that will be controlled by the NDA.
The pool will be used to pay the consortium a fee, based on a broad range of performance targets ranging from training initiatives for staff to safety.The pool will be used to pay the consortium a fee, based on a broad range of performance targets ranging from training initiatives for staff to safety.
"We incentivise not only what they do but also how they do it," explains Mr Hudson. "We incentivise not only what they do but also how they do it," explains the NDA's Mr Hudson.
"While it's a private company, we still have to maintain what the government expects a public body to be.""While it's a private company, we still have to maintain what the government expects a public body to be."
The project does not guarantee NMP a profit, though. To make money, the private management company will have to improve efficiency at the site.The project does not guarantee NMP a profit, though. To make money, the private management company will have to improve efficiency at the site.
"There is an excellent workforce here. We are looking forward to partnering them, listening to them and getting their input to discuss what we can do together to maximise efficiencies," says Mr Pedde."There is an excellent workforce here. We are looking forward to partnering them, listening to them and getting their input to discuss what we can do together to maximise efficiencies," says Mr Pedde.
"This is not about cutting jobs, it is about maximising the skills at Sellafield. There is more work than this workforce can do in the lifetime plan [for the site].""This is not about cutting jobs, it is about maximising the skills at Sellafield. There is more work than this workforce can do in the lifetime plan [for the site]."
No gain, no payNo gain, no pay
With regards to on-site safety, the consortium and its parent companies' liability is limited, similar to how the fee structure works, explains Mr Hudson.With regards to on-site safety, the consortium and its parent companies' liability is limited, similar to how the fee structure works, explains Mr Hudson.
Sellafield's skyline is slowly changing The Sellafield site is complex and hazardous
So if something goes wrong the private operator will only carry the can up to a point, with the government stepping in to bear the bulk of the burden should there be a major disaster.So if something goes wrong the private operator will only carry the can up to a point, with the government stepping in to bear the bulk of the burden should there be a major disaster.
The indemnity has been controversial, though the government insists it would be wrong to expect a private operator to meet an unlimited - and thus uninsurable - cost. NMP, for its part, says the risks and rewards are reflected in the pricing and fee structure.The indemnity has been controversial, though the government insists it would be wrong to expect a private operator to meet an unlimited - and thus uninsurable - cost. NMP, for its part, says the risks and rewards are reflected in the pricing and fee structure.
Indeed, if NMP's efforts to change the way Sellafield's workforce operates fails to deliver savings, it will not get paid at all, Mr Hudson points out.Indeed, if NMP's efforts to change the way Sellafield's workforce operates fails to deliver savings, it will not get paid at all, Mr Hudson points out.
"If the efficiencies don't create any fees, they won't get it.""If the efficiencies don't create any fees, they won't get it."
Improving industrial relations at the site will therefore be among the first challenges awaiting the new management team.Improving industrial relations at the site will therefore be among the first challenges awaiting the new management team.
Industrial relationsIndustrial relations
A strike over pay was only just averted in the run-up to the handover, and many on site are apprehensive about their new bosses' arrival.A strike over pay was only just averted in the run-up to the handover, and many on site are apprehensive about their new bosses' arrival.
It will be NMP's job to inspire their work ethics while at the same time increase productivity.It will be NMP's job to inspire their work ethics while at the same time increase productivity.
Part of that process will be to offer them hope of lifelong careers.Part of that process will be to offer them hope of lifelong careers.
"We are on the verge of a global nuclear renaissance and, in the not too distant future the UK government will make some key decisions on potential new nuclear missions," says Mr Pedde."We are on the verge of a global nuclear renaissance and, in the not too distant future the UK government will make some key decisions on potential new nuclear missions," says Mr Pedde.
"I want to make sure that Sellafield sites and the workforce are in a position to seize whatever potential opportunities these decisions may bring, collectively and as individuals.""I want to make sure that Sellafield sites and the workforce are in a position to seize whatever potential opportunities these decisions may bring, collectively and as individuals."