DOE Finalizes New SWPF $2.3 Billion Baseline

The Department of Energy has approved a new baseline for Savannah River’s Salt Waste Processing Facility that would put the total project cost at $2.3 billion with a startup by early 2021, DOE said yesterday. That is nearly $1 billion more than the previous baseline, which aimed to complete startup before an October 2015 regulatory milestone. DOE’s Deputy Secretary approved the new baseline in August, which looks to complete construction by the end of 2016 and with a target for completing commissioning by December 2018 with a contingency date of January 2021, DOE Savannah River spokesman Jim Giusti said in a release.  

The new baseline was needed after costs increased due largely to lengthy delays in the delivery of key component to the project. The facility is 75 percent complete and is designed to exponentially increase tank waste processing rates at Savannah River. DOE and construction contractor Parsons last year agreed to complete construction for about $1.7 billion by the end of 2016. However, there is no agreement in place for completing commissioning and startup of the plant. In early 2012 Parsons first submitted a revised estimate for the project that totaled $1.78 billion for both construction and startup, which would be complete by the Oct. 2015 commitment.