Nuclear expertise for sale
Mar 31 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal
A BIG slice of the country’s nuclear expertise has been put up for sale after UK Atomic Energy Authority called on would-be buyers for its commercial arm.
The authority is looking to sell UKAEA Ltd, its wholly-owned business which oversees nuclear clean-up work at three sites in the UK and offers consultancy work in international markets.
The Government is hoping to attract healthy interest for the operation before a rapid expansion in nuclear new-build projects in a market worth an estimated £300bn over 25 years.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “As the UK moves towards an era of nuclear new build, this sale will increase efficiency, competition and value for money for the taxpayer in the decommissioning and clean-up work of old nuclear power stations.”
UKAEA, which employs about 230 staff, is handling decommissioning work for the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency at Dounreay in Scotland, Winfrith in Dorset and Harwell in Oxfordshire. It also has offices in Warrington and Cumbria.
It is part of the bidding for several projects to build nuclear power stations overseas as a leading adviser on decommissioning.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority hopes to complete the sale by the end of this year, although the Government has said it may retain a stake in the business.
The disposal follows a decision by the authority to build the commercial arm up so it could operate independently.
