Nuclear decommissioning

The UK nuclear industry is undergoing fundamental change. It is estimated that over £70 billion will be spent decommissioning civil nuclear sites and the organisation charged with overseeing this process is the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Following the publication of the NDA Strategy on 30 March 2006, the new regime is coming into operation and will impact on all businesses involved.

There will be opportunities at all levels as work is competitively tendered, the NDA having a duty to use competition to develop the supply chain and deliver value for money.

However with these opportunities come risks which need to be managed. The risk of working under unfamiliar and untested contracts, as well as the statutory regime, will bring challenges.

The NDA will oversee all aspects of the contracting process and wants a say in the approval of subcontractors and the terms of the contracts. An in-depth understanding of the new structures will be vital. Our nuclear team can guide businesses through the new arrangements, highlighting the pitfalls and opportunities, helping to better understand risk and deal with it in the most effective way.

Our nuclear team is drawn primarily from our construction and engineering group, drawing on experience across all types of projects around the world, including nuclear. In the UK, we have advised contractors and consultants on their decommissioning contracts. Through our membership of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), we are committed to being involved in the decommissioning process and keeping abreast of key issues.

In addition, being able to call on support from dedicated specialists in employment, intellectual property, procurement rules, health and safety, environmental and corporate issues means we can provide a comprehensive, seamless service.

For more information, please contact:
tim.raper@speechlys.com or andrew.steele@speechlys.com