Areva will manage U.K. nuclear waste

PARIS, April 2 (UPI) -- French firm Areva is one of three groups set to operate a British low-level nuclear waste site.

The nuclear power group announced it will take part in a five-year consortium with URS's Washington Division, Studsvik U.K. and Serco Assurance. The contract requires the group to manage and operate the Britain's low-level nuclear waste repository in West Cumbria.

The $93.6 million contract is the first for the operation of a nuclear site awarded by the British Nuclear Decommissioning Authority since it was established in 2005. The contract could possibly be extended for up to an additional 17 years, which would bring its price tag to more than $1 billion.

The contract also covers the implementation of a national strategy to manage additional low-level waste expected to be generated when the NDA decommissions 20 additional nuclear facilities across the country.

Areva and URS's Washington Division, along with Amec, are also bidding for management of the Sellafield nuclear complex as part of a consortium called Nuclear Management Partners. The result of that competition is expected to be announced later this year.