Amentum to consult on Ignalina decommissioning

Chantilly, Va.-based Amentum has been awarded a 7-year contract estimated to be worth €5.5 million (about $6 million) to consult on the dismantling of steam drum separators in Units 1 and 2 of Lithuania's Ignalina nuclear power plant. Once the country's largest generator of electricity, Ignalina was permanently shut down in 2009 and the plant's two RBMK-1500 reactors are expected to be fully decommissioned by 2038.

According to Amentum, the contract will be implemented under International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Yellow Book Conditions, administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and funded by European Commission grants.

The scope: Amentum said it will provide consultancy services to support the Ignalina's project management unit and carry out the duties of FIDIC engineer for the dismantling contract. The company will help Ignalina to manage the removal of the steam drum separators-large drums installed over the graphite core to divert steam to the turbines.

The project management unit will oversee the design and safety justification for the dismantling and fragmentation of the drums and associated equipment, which are located in the plant's radiologically contaminated primary circuit. Amentum said it will also be available to support further stages of decommissioning at the plant.

They said it: "The FIDIC service provider, Amentum, is a significant contributor to the dismantling of the steam drum separators. Their large international experience both as an FIDIC engineer and while working in various similar nuclear power projects will be a contributory factor to the success of the project's joint implementation," said Linas Baužys, director general of the Lithuanian state enterprise INPP.

Andy White, who leads Amentum Energy & Environment International, added, "We will deploy our extensive nuclear decommissioning and waste management experience from the U.K., France, Czechia, and Slovakia to this groundbreaking project."