GTS Duratek has restarted commercial operation of its vitrification melter used to process low-level radioactive waste sludge at the Savannah River Site, called DuraMelter 5000, which is the world’s largest waste melter. The company built, owns and operates the facility.
Last April, GTS Duratek suspended operations of the melter, which operated for approximately one year, for extensive repairs and modifications, including melter box replacement. The company took a one time charge of $5.9 million in the first quarter of 1997 to cover estimated costs of the repairs and losses on the fixed price contract from the delay. It expects to convert the remaining 500 000 gallons of waste into glass over the next 6 to 12 months.
