Cavendish Nuclear, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Babcock, together with its delivery partner Amentum, has been awarded the next phase of work by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) to support the decommissioning of the Monju Prototype Fast Reactor, in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
Alkali Metal Processing Limited, a joint venture between Cavendish Nuclear and Amentum, will construct, commission, and secure regulatory permissions for a new facility in the UK which will treat the sodium coolant removed from the Japanese reactor. The material, which presents no radiological hazards, will be safely converted into sodium hydroxide for general industrial reuse.
This award builds on a previous contract, which focused on the design and engineering phase of the UK-based project and represents a key milestone in the programme, reflecting the strong collaborative relationship with JAEA.
The joint venture will now move forward with construction, installation of process equipment and preparations for operation, working closely with locally based supply chain partners. The approach draws on both companies’ experience gained from the decommissioning of the UK’s Dounreay Prototype Fast Reactor, which shares design similarities with the Monju reactor.
Masanori Koguchi, President of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, said: “It is my great pleasure to have successfully concluded the contract for the next phase of this important project. I sincerely hope that, through the implementation of this project, the collaborative partnership between JAEA and Cavendish Nuclear/Amentum will continue to grow and further deepen.”
Mick Gornall, Managing Director of Cavendish Nuclear, said: “This award is a testament to the trust and confidence JAEA has placed in us. It reflects our deep nuclear expertise and highlights our continued commitment to delivering complex decommissioning solutions both in the UK and internationally, and I am delighted to continue to build our strong relations with JAEA.”
Loren Jones, Senior Vice President, Amentum, said: “This contract is another great example of Amentum using our global decommissioning knowledge and experience to provide real benefit to our customers internationally. We are pleased to be working with JAEA on a project which will deliver considerable social value.”