Amentum Secures Major Role in Sellafield Nuclear Decommissioning Framework
Amentum (NYSE: AMTM) has achieved a significant milestone by securing key positions on the newly established multi-billion-pound Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP) framework, a 15-year initiative designed to manage the decommissioning and cleanup of the Sellafield nuclear site in the United Kingdom. This long-term framework marks one of the largest and most complex nuclear remediation efforts in Europe and positions Amentum as a central player in addressing the UK’s historic nuclear legacy.
Under the DNWP, Amentum will be responsible for remediation and decommissioning operations at some of the most technically challenging and high-security areas of the Sellafield site in Cumbria, England. Sellafield Ltd selected Amentum as the Remediation Partner for the site’s High Security Area, where decades-old facilities require safe dismantling and cleanup. In addition, Amentum is part of The Decommissioning Alliance (TDA) — a consortium including Amentum, AtkinsRéalis, and Westinghouse — which was appointed as the Pond Retrievals Partner to handle and remove hazardous waste from legacy fuel ponds.
The total potential value of the work awarded to Amentum is estimated to be up to £1.4 billion (approximately $1.9 billion USD) over the life of the framework, reflecting the scale and importance of this project to the UK’s nuclear decommissioning program.
Transforming the UK’s Nuclear Legacy
The Sellafield site, one of the most complex nuclear facilities in the world, has been at the heart of Britain’s nuclear industry since the 1940s. Today, its focus has shifted from power generation and reprocessing toward environmental restoration and waste management. Amentum’s role is central to achieving these long-term objectives.
Loren Jones, Senior Vice President of Amentum Energy & Environment – International, highlighted the company’s strategic approach to the project:
We will bring world-class, multidisciplinary, end-to-end engineering and project management capabilities to the UK’s most significant nuclear legacy challenges while also delivering outstanding performance on safety, collaboration, social impact, and supply chain management.
Mark Whitney, President of Amentum Energy & Environment, added:
Our reputation for safe, reliable delivery and a constant drive for innovation make us the ideal partner to advance the Sellafield mission. This framework gives us the opportunity to demonstrate how technology and collaboration can accelerate the safe, sustainable cleanup of one of the world’s most demanding nuclear environments.
Scope of Work and Technological Integration
As the Remediation Partner, Amentum will adopt a waste-led decommissioning approach. This strategy focuses on systematically clearing redundant and contaminated buildings to release land for reuse while preparing complex reactor and fuel-handling facilities for eventual dismantling. The company will employ its expertise in large-scale demolition, environmental remediation, and waste processing, applying advanced tools and data-driven decision-making systems to enhance safety and efficiency.
Amentum plans to use a comprehensive suite of technologies, including:
- Digital visualization and 3D modeling to support precise engineering design.
- Geospatial data analysis for topographical mapping and subsurface assessment.
- Robotics and augmented reality systems to enhance safety and reduce human exposure to radiation.
- Threadsafe, Amentum’s proprietary AI-driven platform that uses natural language processing and knowledge graph technology to map and analyze complex documentation sets such as nuclear safety cases and engineering plans.
Managing Hazardous Waste with Advanced Robotics
As part of The Decommissioning Alliance, Amentum will play a crucial role in retrieving hazardous radioactive materials from the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) and the Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP). These legacy ponds contain decades-old waste materials that require careful handling and transfer to modern treatment and disposal facilities.
To achieve this, Amentum will deploy robot-operated systems, including the Bulk Sludge Retrieval Tool (BSRT) — a state-of-the-art vacuum system designed for the safe extraction and transfer of radioactive sludge. The system minimizes manual handling, reduces operational risks, and improves waste throughput efficiency. Additionally, the company will use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater inspections, sampling, waste retrieval, cutting, and handling operations within high-radiation zones.
Other innovative solutions include automated transfer systems that move radioactive waste from storage skips into shielded containers, reducing the volume of waste and streamlining packaging processes. These methods not only improve worker safety but also significantly cut the time and cost associated with conventional decommissioning techniques.
The DNWP Framework: A Long-term Vision
The DNWP framework encompasses both operational nuclear facilities and those undergoing post-operational cleanout, decommissioning, and demolition. It represents Sellafield Ltd’s long-term route to market for integrated high-hazard risk reduction programs. Over the next 15 years, the UK government expects remediation and decommissioning spending to increase steadily, particularly as more nuclear facilities at Sellafield and across the UK transition from operation to closure.
The framework emphasizes collaboration between government agencies, private contractors, and technology providers to accelerate progress while maintaining the highest safety standards. The Sellafield cleanup is a cornerstone of the UK’s broader nuclear decommissioning strategy, aligning with the country’s commitment to environmental stewardship, safety, and sustainable redevelopment of former industrial sites.
Amentum’s Broader Commitment to the UK and Global Markets
Amentum’s success in securing this contract builds on its extensive track record in complex nuclear and environmental projects across the world. The company has decades of experience working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on large-scale decommissioning projects, including those at the Hanford Site and Savannah River Site, two of the largest nuclear cleanup operations globally.
In the UK, Amentum has been involved in several major programs, supporting the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and other stakeholders in transforming former nuclear facilities into safe, sustainable assets. Through the Sellafield DNWP, Amentum aims to further solidify its presence in the UK market while driving innovation and efficiency in nuclear cleanup.
Financial and Economic Impact
The Sellafield DNWP framework represents not just a technical achievement but also a significant economic opportunity. Amentum’s work will create new local employment opportunities, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and deliver socio-economic benefits to the Cumbria region. By emphasizing supply chain engagement, training, and skills development, the company seeks to contribute to a lasting legacy of industrial capability and community growth.
The £1.4 billion potential contract value underscores the scale of investment in nuclear cleanup and the UK’s long-term commitment to safely managing its legacy waste. Moreover, Amentum’s innovative and data-driven approach is expected to set new industry benchmarks for safety, cost efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
About Amentum
Amentum is a global leader in advanced engineering, project management, and technology-driven solutions, serving clients across defense, energy, environment, and infrastructure sectors. The company operates in approximately 80 countries with a workforce of over 53,000 employees. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, Amentum is trusted by governments and private-sector partners to solve their most complex technical and operational challenges.
Its mission is guided by an unwavering commitment to safety, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability — values that define its approach to every project, from space exploration to nuclear remediation. Through curiosity, expertise, and a relentless drive for progress, Amentum continues to redefine what is possible in engineering and environmental management.
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