Westinghouse and Perma-Fix agree to partner on UK nuclear waste facility

8 March 2022


Westinghouse and Perma-Fix Environmental Services signed a Term Sheet during the Waste Management Symposium (Photo: Westinghouse)Westinghouse Electric Company and Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. have signed a term sheet signaling plans to develop a nuclear materials treatment facility at Westinghouse's Springfields site in the United Kingdom.

The new facility, which is expected to be majority-owned (55%) by Westinghouse, will incorporate the Perma-Fix Bulk Processing Unit (BPU), a vessel designed to treat a wide range of radioactive materials. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Westinghouse as we expand our proven technology to the European market,” said Mark Duff, CEO of Perma-Fix, a company that owns and operates three nuclear licensed and authorised radioactive waste treatment facilities in the USA. 

“With the success that our BPU vessel has had in the United States for over two decades, we are eager to bring this technology to new markets, enabling more plants globally to enhance their capabilities when it comes to handling radioactive waste removal. In the UK alone, there are over 5.1 million tons of total waste for treatment, including radioactive waste in storage and anticipated waste from decommissioning operations," he added. 

Sam Shakir, president of Environmental Services at Westinghouse said: “We look forward to working with Perma-Fix to provide European customers with increased access to the full range of treatment capabilities – from characterization, packaging, consignment and transport, to receipt, storage, sort and segregation, treatment and final disposal. 

The 83 hectare Springfields nuclear licensed site is located near Preston, in north west England and is managed and operated by Westinghouse under a long-term lease with the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The site's activities include the manufacture of oxide fuels for Advanced Gas-cooled and Light Water Reactors, as well as intermediate fuel products, such as powders, granules and pellets, uranium recovery services and decommissioning and demolition of redundant plants and buildings. Two years ago, Westinghouse unveiled plans for a Clean Energy Technology Park at the site. 


Photo: Westinghouse and Perma-Fix Environmental Services signed a Term Sheet during the Waste Management Symposium (Credit: Westinghouse)



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