Our Sellafield - May 2021

Business Our Manifesto Environment Safety 23 A clearout of old machinery and clutter is giving our Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant (SIXEP) a new lease of life. The first batch of Intermediate Level Waste redundant machinery was successfully exported from SIXEP to Miscellaneous Beta Gamma Waste Store earlier this year, establishing an important new waste disposal route which will mean we can prolong the operational life of the ‘site’s kidneys’ before the new SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) comes on-stream. The project team – consisting of the SIXEP Transition Delivery Team, SIXEP Operations, Day Waste team, Plant Engineering, IWM, HP&S, riggers, maintenance team and support from Sellafield transport and MBGWS – has successfully demonstrated that old pumps and valves can be sent from SIXEP to the storage facility before eventual disposal. Clearing out the clutter makes it easier to install new parts and equipment such as cartridges in valves to keep the plant’s vital machinery running for longer. It will also reduce our overall waste bill as engineers have more room to work in replacing individual parts of equipment rather than the whole thing. “This has been a superb milestone to achieve and is reflective of the drive, energy and enthusiasm of all those involved,” said SIXEP Programme Manager, Simon Bremer. “It will help deliver SIXEP and SCP operations through to 2060.” Andy Heague, Head of Operations in spent fuel services, said: “This step forward allows us to safely and appropriately manage waste, making the facility a safer and more pleasant place to work. It de-risks future operations in the facility and for the SCP Programme. Delivering this milestone safely within the Covid arrangements demonstrates the tremendous drive, commitment and dedication to the task by the multi discipline team.” SIXEP gets a clear out TRANSFER: a full ILW flask NEWS WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT “ This has been a superb milestone to achieve and is reflective of the drive, energy and enthusiasm of all those involved. ”