NDA takes Sellafield back into ownership

The government has ended its contract with private consortium Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) to clean up the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced that ownership of Sellafield Ltd, the company that manages and operates the site, will revert to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) from NMP, which took control of Sellafield Ltd under contract to the NDA in 2008.

After a year-long review of the options, the NDA has concluded that simplifying the relationship between the NDA and Sellafield Ltd will bring greater clarity and focus on achieving progress and value for money.

A key feature of the new arrangements is for a 'strategic partner’ to be sought from the private sector to advise and assist the Sellafield Ltd executive team in the work necessary to take an overview of all site activities – these arrangements are similar to those successfully put in place by London’s Crossrail. This means the private sector becomes a supplier to the Site Licensed Company (Sellafield Ltd) rather than a parent of it.

Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: ‘Sellafield is the biggest and most complex nuclear site in Europe, so it’s right that we keep the way it’s being managed under constant review.’

The Sellafield Ltd Board will continue to consist of existing non-executive directors and key members of the current executive team, but over time will now also see the introduction of NDA appointed directors. The NDA’s recommendation is fully supported by DECC and the NDA anticipates the full co-operation of Nuclear Management Partners during the transition to new arrangements over the next 12–15 months.