Studsvik wins MEUR 7.2 decommissioning contract

Studsvik has been awarded a specialist consulting contract in the decommissioning of Belgonucleaire's fuel fabrication plant in Dessel, Belgium. The assignment, valued at EUR 1.8 million annually, will involve supervisors and two teams of operators and is expected to last for four years. Belgonucleaire aims to decommission the plant to release the buildings for other nuclear activities. The production area with glove boxes, remaining equipment and infrastructure are to be carefully and safely dismantled and packed into waste drums.

Studsvik will take on an expert role in the project, advising Belgonucleaire and other contractors on the decommissioning. Studsvik has experience from dismantling fuel plants in the same category (MOX) as the Dessel plant after participating in the decommissioning of Siemens' plant in Hanau, Germany in 2001-2005. Belgonucleaire will coordinate and supervise the project.

"Experience from dismantling MOX fuel fabrication plants is rare and is one of the reasons for Belgonucleaire to team up with Studsvik in this decommissioning project", says Alain Vandergheynst, Decommissioning Manager of Belgonucleaire.

"The Dessel plant will be an important project for Studsvik in the coming years. It will strengthen our market position both in Belgium and in decommissioning," says Studsvik's President and CEO Magnus Groth.

Belgonucleaire was issued necessary permits for the decommissioning in 2008 and the project is scheduled to start in the second quarter 2009. The Belgian company will end its activities after decommissioning the plant.

The fuel fabrication plant was closed in 2006. MOX fuel is a mixture of plutonium and uranium oxides and is used in commercial nuclear power plants.