Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum, in a joint venture (JV), have been selected to build a new facility at the Port of Workington to treat sodium coolant from a nuclear reactor in Japan.
The work is subject to planning and regulatory permissions, and would treat material from the Monju Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR), in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
It is part of a wider project to support the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) with the decommissioning of the Monju reactor, which was closed in December 1995, but was restarted in 2010.
The new facility will be built and operated by a JV formed of the two firms and will “support skilled jobs both directly and more widely across the supply chain, contributing significantly to the local economy”, said a statement from Cumberland Council, which Council owns and operates the port.
It added that the plans for the sodium treatment facility follows on from works carried out at the port and nearby Oldside to clear land in preparation for other development in future.
Thomas Armstrong Construction is carrying out the land clearance work for Cumberland Council and the work is being funded by approximately £4.5M in government funding as part of the Workington Town Deal.
The land clearance works are part of “a wider regeneration project which includes the Workington Gateway and the opening up of better transport links in the town centre”, the council said.
They are also part of a long-term initiative to turn the area into a hub for “clean energy, manufacturing and intermodal logistics which will support wider regional growth,” it said.
A Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum spokesperson said: “Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum are grateful to Cumberland Council and the Port’s management team for their support in enabling our design and construction programme to move to the next phase.
“We are fully committed to adding real social value toWest Cumbria and this new venture will contribute to the regeneration [of] the Port of Workington and support the local economy.”
Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer said: “This is fantastic news for the port as this new development, subject to the necessary approvals, will bring good quality jobs to Workington and support the wider supply chain and local economy.
“We’re extending a warm welcome to our new partners and look forward to working with all those involved over the coming weeks and months.”
In 2010, a £1M dredging operation was completed at the port as part of its recovery from damage caused by floods which took place in 2009.
Also in 2010, Morgan Est was scheduled to start work on a £4.6M temporary road bridge at the port, also as part of repairing the damage from the floods.
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AloJapan.com