An Amentum-led joint venture has won a $406 million (£300 million) contract by Great British Energy – Nuclear to serve as the owner’s engineer for the small modular reactor (SMR) project in the United Kingdom.
The Litmus Nuclear, joint venture between partners Amentum and Cavendish Nuclear, signed a long-term agreement that can last up to 14 years, according to Amentum’s Wednesday press release. The joint venture will support the Rolls-Royce SMR’s efforts to construct its three SMRs at the Wylfa site in North Wales.
Under the agreement, Litmus Nuclear will help in the UK SMR program by “delivering independent assurance and expert technical guidance across critical areas, including design, safety, engineering, construction, and commissioning,” according to the release.
Virginia-based Amentum said this contract should help Great British Energy – Nuclear achieve its goal of securing a final investment decision for getting SMRs constructed and online at the Wylfa site.
“This award recognizes Amentum’s expertise to accelerate the global expansion and revitalization of nuclear energy,” said Loren Jones, senior vice president and head of Amentum’s Energy & Environment-International business.
“Amentum will draw upon our expertise in nuclear science and engineering to provide independent technical and delivery assurance, helping GBE-N advance the SMR program and bolster the UK’s energy security and industrial base,” Jones added.
Amentum and Rolls-Royce SMR already have a collaborative agreement in place as the UK SMR developer chose Amentum to serve as its program delivery partner for its first UK and Czech SMR deployments. In that role, Amentum will be responsible for construction management, oversight and execution of SMR deployment.
Amentum has contracted for several other projects in the UK, including work at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C Jones said. The nuclear engineering solutions company also provides support to nuclear waste management work in the UK.
In the United Kingdom, Rolls-Royce SMR seeks to deliver up to 1,500 megawatts of nuclear energy to the grid, supporting carbon-free power and creating more than 8,000 British jobs.
Last summer, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the preferred bidder by Great Britain Energy – Nuclear to build three units. A Rolls-Royce SMR’s unit will be designed as a pressurized water reactor that produces 470 megawatts.
On March 13, Rolls-Royce SMR’s reactor design received regulatory justification from UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds. Rolls-Royce SMR is the first SMR to receive this approval in the UK.