Balfour Beatty awarded £240 million Sellafield contract

National construction group Balfour Beatty has announced that its joint venture with AMEC and Jacobs has been appointed to a framework contract to provide a new nuclear waste processing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, UK.

The three way, equal, joint venture will be the sole contractor on the four year framework with Sellafield Limited which is worth between £240 million and £336 million to construct the new ‘Box Encapsulation Plant’

The plan, which will receive, segregate and encapsulate hazardous waste already stored on the Sellafield site, is part of Sellafield’s wider programme to prepare hazardous nuclear waste for storage and disposal.

Balfour Beatty’s Major Projects business will provide a broad range of expertise including civil engineering, construction and mechanical and electrical capabilities, and supply chain management.

Work is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2014. The joint venture is committed to engaging local small and medium sized businesses in the supply chain and employing local apprentices and trainees.

Balfour Beatty UK construction CEO Nicholas Pollard said: “Balfour Beatty has a strong heritage in the nuclear sector including a 35 year presence at Sellafield.

“This is an important project to reduce hazardous waste across the Sellafield site and Balfour Beatty and our partners will draw upon and share our extensive experience of safely delivering major nuclear facilities.

“This latest award underscores Balfour Beatty’s success and capability in the UK power sector.”