NI construction firm, GRAHAM, has been awarded the "Southern Trenches Interim Membrane" (STIM) project at the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) in Cumbria, for their client, Nuclear Waste Services.

The four-year contract involves work on the Southern Trench Cap Interim Membrane (STIM), which includes installing a new protective membrane over existing disposal trenches. The project will also incorporate additional construction materials to advance towards the final cap.

Capping is a crucial phase in the disposal lifecycle. It will cover the waste accumulated in the trenches and vaults with engineered layers of material, up to 10 metres thick, to provide permanent protection for both people and the environment.

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This work is essential for making nuclear waste safely contained sooner and is of great importance for the UK and future generations.

Alastair Lewis, GRAHAM Contracts Director stated: "This is the largest nuclear project to date for the business and will continue on from previous works undertaken during the Low-Level Waste Repository (LLWR) Scheme.

"We recognise the critical importance of this work in ensuring the long-term environmental protection provided by the LLWR facility and are fully committed to delivering a high-quality solution in partnership with Nuclear Waste Services."

Jonathan Evans, Repository Site Programmes Director, Nuclear Waste Services, said: "Placing the engineered cap over the legacy radioactive waste disposal facilities at the UK’s Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) is a first of its kind activity for the UK. The capping work is fully integrated with our ongoing disposal operations at the site. We are very pleased the initial work is progressing and we can move forward with this key phase, working collaboratively with GRAHAM Construction.

"It is important that NWS caps the existing vaults and trenches to provide long-term protection of the environment for generations to come. This work is integral to our mission, to make the UK’s nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner."

GRAHAM will start work on the contract this month, with major works commencing February 2025.