At Oldbury, Magnox North is the main management and operations contractor on site, responsible for the effective and safe operation of the Magnox nuclear power station on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Operational and decommissioning challenge

Magnox North’s challenge is to maintain Oldbury's performance track record which is recognised as being amongst the best in the global nuclear industry whilst continuing to maintain high nuclear and industrial safety, security and environmental standards. The management team on site is committed to delivering its agreed programme for fuel transfer, optimising income and reducing costs year on year.

Our immediate priority at Oldbury is to continue to generate electricity and maintain the programme of used fuel transfer to Sellafield whilst at the same time prepare for a seamless transition to the defuelling phase after generation ceases in December 2008. During defuelling all fuel will be removed from the reactors and storage ponds and despatched to Sellafield. Initial decommissioning work will also start in parallel with defuelling. Dismantling, demolition and waste management work to remove most radioactive and non-radioactive plant and buildings will follow to prepare the site for the care and maintenance phase.

A purpose built store will be constructed to store packages of retrieved and processed intermediate level waste. The reactor buildings will be put in a passively safe and secure state and will remain in a dormant state, continuously monitored and routinely inspected for a prolonged period prior to removal, before releasing the site for delicencing and re-use.

Delivering value

Whilst we focus on the safe and reliable generation of electricity from Oldbury power station, there is a parallel programme in place designed to prepare the power station for decommissioning.

Key highlights

• Since electricity generation began, more than 2,800 spent fuel transport flasks have been despatched off site
• Achieved 365 days without a lost time accident
• Environmental Management system maintained accreditation to ISO 14001
• No radiological discharges outside statutory reportable limits