Orano secures a position on the Nuclear Waste Services’ Disposability Assurance Support Framework

Orano is delighted to announce that it has successfully secured a position on Nuclear Waste Services’ Disposability Assurance Support Framework, alongside supply chain partners NUVIA, Galson Sciences, Frazer Nash Consultancy and Cyclife.

With a value of up to £7M pounds over a four-year period, this will involve an ‘expert review of radioactive waste management approaches to enable the effective management of waste and delivery of the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) programme.’ The contract scope will draw on the unique capability of all partners to deliver waste package disposability assessments, periodic reviews and feedback relating to the current GDF inventory, waste packaging approaches and associated safety cases. This will in turn reinforce confidence in the compliance of waste packages with disposal requirements, and ensure high-quality waste package records, which will support their eventual disposal. The framework will also provide Generic Design Assessment (GDA) Disposability Assessment for new reactor designs and assessment of new Small and Advanced Modular Reactor proposals.

Orano has successfully led Nuclear Waste Services’ Disposability Assessment framework for the past four years and is pleased to have established a long-term, positive relationship with the client and its former component entities, the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) and Radioactive Waste Management Limited (RWM). Orano’s experience in contributing to Nuclear Waste Services’ GDF mission allows it to provide an informed and expert capability to this new framework, combining relevant experience with forward-looking approaches to delivery. While the majority of the work will be completed by its local and established UK teams, Orano also has the ability to reinforce its offer with the international capability of the Orano group in areas such as specialist engineering.

David Batters, Managing Director of Orano Limited, commented on the successful award, saying that: ‘Orano is ready to deliver once again on a major NWS framework, which will play an important role in creating a safe and sustainable nuclear future in the UK. Our teams have the experience, flexibility and collaborative behaviours that will allow us to deliver optimal value alongside our partners, developing and maintaining client confidence in our ability to deliver, while ensuring we remain adaptable and innovative in our approach.’