NDA has not systematically reviewed why major projects keep running into difficulties. Despite some progress, expected cost overruns stand at nearly £1 billion. BEIS still to make decision on future plutonium stockpile. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Sellafield Limited have recently met significant milestones with reducing risk at the high hazard facilities at Sellafield, the NDA’s largest and most hazardous site. The NDA and Sellafield Limited have also made progress with reducing delays and expected cost overruns with 14 major projects at Sellafield, which have a combined lifetime cost estimate of £6 billion. While we recognise that there has been progress since this Committee last reported, there is still a long way to go and the NDA cannot afford to be complacent. Most major projects at Sellafield are still significantly delayed, with expected combined cost overruns of £913 million. The NDA has not systematically reviewed why these projects keep running into difficulties, or analysed properly the constraints it says prevent them from making faster progress.
Public Accounts Committee 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Most major projects at the Sellafield nuclear site are still “significantly” delayed, with expected over-runs of £913 million, according to an official report. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it remained sceptical about the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) long-term strategy to decommission Sellafield until work was completed. The committee said the NDA had not systematically reviewed why projects kept running into difficulties, or analysed the constraints preventing it from making faster progress. The committee last examined progress at Sellafield in March 2015 and found that major programmes and projects were significantly behind schedule and over budget. Its latest report said progress had been made in reducing delays and expected cost over-runs with 14 major projects at the site in Cumbria, which have a combined lifetime cost estimate of £6 billion. The committee said progress had been made in the past few years, but added that there was a long way to go. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, deputy chairman of the committee, said: “This report is critical of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s performance. The Government’s oversight of the NDA’s performance could and should be much better, particularly on projects at Sellafield that cost a considerable amount of public money. “This report follows the committee’s earlier report into the NDA’s Magnox contract. The NDA failed in both the procurement and management of this contract and cost the taxpayer £122 million.”
Isle of Wight County Press 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Sellafield nuclear decommissioning work ‘significantly’ delayed and nearly £1bn over budget, report reveals.
Independent 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Troubled Sellafield project hits nearly a billion in overruns. Most major projects at the Sellafield nuclear site are still “significantly” delayed, with expected over-runs of £913 million, according to an official.
Energy Voice 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Huffington Post 31st Oct 2018 read more »
The Sellafield Medium and Long Term Reseach Needs review sets where our R&D will be focussed, in the medium to longer term. The purpose of this document is to present the details of this review. Five science themes and 6 technology areas have been identified, which when combined form the science and technology work breakdown structure against which medium to longer term research needs have been captured. These processes and technologies need to be sufficiently underpinned by R&D and as our mission evolves, it is essential that the science and technology areas requiring R&D investment are aligned to the changing needs of the business.
Sellafield Ltd 30th Oct 2018 read more »
Thorp was one of the largest construction projects of its day, ranking alongside the Channel Tunnel and Disneyland Paris in sheer scale and ambition. Thousands of workers descended onto Cumbria to help tackle some of the most unique engineering challenges in the world.
Sellafield Ltd and NDA 26th Oct 2018 read more »