Aecon-Wachs selected for nuclear plant decommissioning, renovation work

Aecon-Wachs, which has its U.S headquarters in Jackson, South Carolina, provides single-source solutions for many aspects of nuclear industry construction, refurbishment, maintenance and decommissioning, has entered into two contracts with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, valued at $100 million, to complete decommissioning work at the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina.

Aecon-Wachs will help transition the unfinished Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Building 226-F to the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) by demolition and removal (D&R) of all components, including equipment and bulk commodities while protecting the existing structure. In coordination with the D&R scope, Aecon-Wachs will design, install and maintain temporary heating venting and air conditioning infrastructure to facilitate proper climate controls in the facility during construction.

Aecon-Wachs Vice President and General Manager Keith Willingham began his career at Savannah River Site 35 years ago.

“We are excited to add this important SRS project to our growing backlog of signature decommissioning projects, and we will work diligently to get the project started and completed as needed by our client and key stakeholders,” Willingham says.

Standing approximately 73 feet tall, Building 226-F contains three floors and more than 400,000 square feet of available Hazard Category-2 space, which will meet the production requirements for a plutonium pit, a U.S. Department of Energy fact sheet on the project says. The interior walls of the facility are reinforced to provide shielding for personnel and to meet the 50-year facility design life.

The projects kicked off in October 2022 and will continue through October 2024 with an optional multi-year maintenance program to follow. Aecon-Wachs and its subcontractors and small business partners will provide management positions to support approximately 42 non-manual roles at the peak of the schedule. One hundred thirty-five new skilled jobs will likely be created as work ramps up.

“Since the 2018 acquisition of Wachs Services by Aecon Group, we set a strategic mission to grow our nuclear portfolio in next-generation nuclear technologies, existing plant maintenance and life extensions, decommissioning and government services,” Willingham says. “The selection of Aecon-Wachs for this critical mission is a testament to the strength of our decommissioning experience. Aecon-Wachs is an industry leader in safety, quality and construction management teams. With current reactor segmentation and large component removal projects already underway at Oak Ridge, the NS Savannah and several commercial nuclear sites, Aecon-Wachs is poised to continue to grow in the decommissioning and government sectors of the nuclear industry.”