A consortium of Germany’s Uniper Anlagenservice and Russia’s German-based Nukem Technologies has been awarded a contract to dismantle four reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) in Sweden – two each at Oskarshamn and Barsebäck, Nukem announced on 25 April.
Dismantling of the Barsebäck RPVs is scheduled to begin in early 2020 after receiving a dismantling licence. The entire project is expected to be completed at Oskarshamn in 2024.
The decommissioning programme comprises several work packages including fragmentation and removal of the RPVs and the removal of turbine and generator parts. The dismantling will be performed consecutively, starting in Barsebäck and then moving on to Oskarshamn so as to ensure a “lead and learn” approach. The synergy gains arising from common planning and investments will be used to achieve higher efficiency within the programme, said NUKEM. Transferring the expertise from the first unit to the subsequent ones will contribute to the project safety.
This contract is the result of long and intensive procurement work, said Billy Slättengren, Project Manager Decommissioning at Oskarshamn. Åsa Carlson, CEO Barsebäck Kraft, thanked Oskarshamns Kraftgrupp (OKG), Barsebäck Kraft (BKAB), Uniper Anlagenservice and NUKEM Technologies for their cooperation: “For over a year, this fantastic team has worked so hard and intensively and made it possible for us to stand here today and sign the contract,” he said. Nukem Technologies based in Alzenau, Germany, is active in management of radioactive waste and used fuel, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, and engineering and consulting. Since 2009, it has been part of ASE Group (engineering division of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom).
Photo: Oskarshamn 1 reactor hall (Credit: OKG)