SNC-Lavalin forms JV in the U.S. to pursue nuclear decommissioning

SNC-Lavalin together with Florida-based Holtec International group have announced the formation of a new U.S.-based joint venture company named Comprehensive Decommissioning International, LLC (CDI), headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, to bring the expertise of both companies together to pursue work that involves the decommissioning of shuttered nuclear plants.

In a media release announcing the new joint-venture, the the companies note that with an aging nuclear power plant fleet and the rise of lower cost means of energy generation in the U.S., decommissioning has become a rapid growth market with a forecast value exceeding US$14B over the next 10 years.

“CDI’s vision is to become the leading decommissioning contractor in this market,” said Pierre Oneid, Holtec’s senior vice-president and chief nuclear officer. “Now is the time to invest and the parent companies are bringing their joint skills, technologies and financial strength together to lead the way in decommissioning and spent fuel storage.”

“This joint venture expands our existing collaboration with SNC-Lavalin on our small modular reactor, the SMR-160, to the decontamination and decommissioning sector of the nuclear industry. We will leverage our used fuel storage and transport expertise, now in use by 110 nuclear reactors around the world, to pave the way for what we call prompt decommissioning,” said Holtec’s president & CEO, Dr. Kris Singh.

“SNC-Lavalin continues to expand its participation in the nuclear value chain, working with its valued partner, Holtec,” said Sandy Taylor, SNC-Lavalin’s president, nuclear. “Over and above our collaboration with Holtec for small modular reactors, the unique contributions of our respective companies bring a complete solution to reactor decontamination and decommissioning, bringing technology and innovation to fuel management and facilities dismantlement.”