The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

As decommissioning gathers pace at Berkeley, the iconic boilers that stand guard outside the site's reactors are due to be shipped off to Sweden for recycling.

Studsvik has signed a £8 million contract with the Low Level Waste Repository Ltd (LLWR) for the transport and treatment of five redundant boilers, or heat exchangers. Up to 95% of each 300-tonne boiler will be recycled and released for re-use.

Studsvik will transport each one by road and sea to its processing facility at its site,near Nyköping in Sweden, where it has purpose-built, engineered facilities for the size-reduction, decontamination and recycling of the exchangers.

LLWR act on behalf of Magnox Ltd for the procurement and contract management of the project, part of their role in implementing the national NDA LLW Strategy.

Dr Adrian Simper, NDA's Executive Director for Strategy, said:

"Maximising the reuse and recycling of redundant materials is a key part of our LLW Strategy and, as decommissioning activities develop across our UK estate, I'm looking forward to seeing more opportunities arise that can benefit both ourselves and the commercial sector."

Removal of the boilers is due to begin next year and will mark the start of early completion of an important part of final site clearance, while bringing a noticeable change to the footprint of the site.  

Sam Usher, President of Studsvik UK Ltd said:

"Studsvik is pleased to be able to play a part in the safe removal and recycling of the Berkeley boilers, as part of the progressive clean-up of the NDA estate. Our plans are economically and environmentally beneficial, and show Studsvik's ability to manage complex waste problems."

The heat exchangers, or boilers, were used as an integral part of the electricity production at the UK's first commercial nuclear power station which ceased generation in 1989.

Steve McNally, Magnox Site Director for Berkeley said:

"The removal of these boilers will be another important step in preparing the site for entry into Care & Maintenance. We are confident that in working with LLWR and Studsvik, we can deliver another major decommissioning milestone for Magnox and our customer the NDA."