Babcock Dounreay Partnership takes over at Dounreay

London - The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has formally awarded Babcock Dounreay Partnership - a JV between Babcock, CH2M Hill and URS - the contract to manage the decommissioning, demolition and clean-up of the Dounreay nuclear site.

The award follows a share transfer on 1 April, making BDP the new parent body organisation for Dounreay, having officially taken ownership of Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DRSL).

As DSRL’s new owner, BDP said it would take the decommissioning programme at Dounreay to ‘interim end state’ between 2022 and 2025 - up to 16 years earlier than the 2038 date estimated two years ago.

BDP’s remit includes removing Dounreay’s landmark dome and other buildings, and reducing project costs by over £1 billion.

New features of BDP’s management of the programme include a target cost incentive fee contract arrangement (involving sharing the risk with the NDA), an accelerated closure programme, a new project-focused working methodology, and a programme of support and mentoring for the local business community.

The company will also continue to contribute to the important on-going socio-economic programme to assist the regeneration of Caithness and North Sutherland.

The contract award and official handover follows a four-month transition period since BDP’s selection as preferred bidder, to prepare the incoming team to take on its responsibilities in a staged manner, with minimal impact on the continuity of work taking place at Dounreay.

The transition phase has seen the appointment and introduction of the new management team, which includes Babcock, CH2M Hill, URS and DSRL personnel, led by Roger Hardy – formerly Babcock managing director, nuclear – who becomes MD Dounreay.

Further elements of the transition included stakeholder engagement, completion of due diligence on the Dounreay Lifetime Plan, and finalisation of the contract with the NDA.