Contract for Sellafield plutonium storage containers

In January last year, the UK government took the decision that the country's stockpile of civil plutonium would be disposed of, rather than used to produce mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for nuclear power plants. The inventory arose from the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel undertaken over many decades. The UK's stockpile of some 140 tonnes of civil plutonium is currently stored at the Sellafield site in Cumbria, in line with regulatory requirements.

Once commissioned, the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP) will prepare plutonium for long‑term storage ahead of its future immobilisation. The plant will treat existing plutonium stocks and repackage them into durable, modern containers known as 100‑year cans. That will ensure the material is capable of being transferred to an immobilisation facility where it will be converted into a stable waste form, suitable for consignment to a geological disposal facility.

Under the contract, LTi Metaltech - part of the wider LTi Group - will deliver products designed to support the re-packaging of special nuclear materials to nuclear quality requirements, with rigorous inspection and full material traceability embedded throughout manufacture. The team will work closely with Sellafield and project stakeholders throughout mobilisation and delivery to ensure all items meet technical, regulatory and schedule expectations.

Across the contract term, SRP will require multiple product types, with projected demand ranging from approximately 4,500 to 9,500 units, depending on product category. Delivery will be split into two phases: an initial three to four year development phase, followed by a 10-year volume production phase aligned to programme needs.

"Sellafield has safely and securely managed plutonium since the 1940s, developing world leading expertise in the process and being recognised as the UK's centre of excellence for plutonium management," said James Riddick, Sellafield Ltd chief supply chain officer. "It's a mission of national significance and requires expertise across a vast supply chain. LTi Metaltech is now part of this mission and was selected for its robust high-integrity manufacturing approach, specialist capability, and a delivery model aimed at consistent, repeatable supply over the life of the contract."

LTi Metaltech Managing Director Edgar Rayner added: "We're proud to support Sellafield's mission, and the contract award reflects our ethos of 'making stuff that matters', delivering high-integrity products for projects where safety and reliability are critical. This contract is an important milestone for LTi Metaltech and a strong endorsement of our manufacturing capability."

SRP is one of the largest and most complex projects under way at Sellafield. It is being delivered through Sellafield's Programme and Project Partners (PPP) model, which brings together KBR, Amentum, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure and Altrad Babcock, supported by a wider supply chain.

The main construction of 30-metre-tall SRP began in February 2020 with the first concrete pour for the base slab. The facility is set to be ready for active commissioning in 2027 and is expected to remain in operation until about 2060.