Hochtief receives billion-dollar order for Sellafield nuclear plant

The British Sellafield nuclear plant will remain a major customer of the German construction group Hochtief in the coming years. Hochtief announced in Essen that they had received an extensive long-term framework agreement worth up to 1.5 billion British pounds. This is equivalent to around 1.75 billion euros. The contract with the group's subsidiary Hochtief Infrastructure provides for the operation, maintenance and further development of the largest and most complex nuclear site in Great Britain.

The contract has a term of up to 15 years, consisting of a nine-year basic term and a six-year extension option, it said. He is replacing an earlier framework agreement. Hochtief will provide a wide range of services, including installation, system maintenance and project management. A large part of the work will be carried out in areas with ongoing operations and radiation protection monitored environments.

Electricity has not been generated in Sellafield since 2003

Sellafield is located in northwest England on the Irish Sea. The facility belongs to the British Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The site is home to the decommissioned Calder Hall nuclear power station, which was decommissioned in 2003. Since then, according to the British Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), no electricity has been generated at the site.

Since 2022, nuclear fuel has no longer been reprocessed in Sellafield. Nuclear waste is also stored there. According to ONR, the focus of the operating company is now on the renovation and dismantling of the nuclear and other facilities on the site as well as the safe storage of nuclear waste.

Hochtief: Nuclear infrastructure is a “significant growth market”

Hochtief CEO Juan Santamaría said he was pleased with the new contract. This underlines Hochtief's strong positioning in the nuclear sector, he said, according to the statement. “Nuclear infrastructure is a significant growth market with high long-term potential.”

Hochtief is majority owned by the Spanish construction and infrastructure giant ACS. The Essen-based company has been listed in the Dax stock exchange segment since June 22nd. CEO Santamaría is also CEO of ACS.