A Cumbrian company has been awarded a £30 million contract to manufacture nuclear waste containers for Sellafield Ltd. Workington-based TSP Engineering will produce transport packages for Sellafield Ltd’s decommissioning programme.

The 50-tonne, lead-lined containers will transfer nuclear waste from the legacy Magnox Swarf Storage Silo to newly built storage facilities on the Sellafield site. The work is expected to create or sustain approximately 200 jobs at TSP Engineering.

The move underlines the commitment of Sellafield Ltd and its owner the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to investing in local supply chains. Alongside other orders placed with the business, the work will bring the TSP Engineering workforce to in excess of 250 people.

John Coughlan, chief executive officer of TSP Engineering, said:

“This is great news for TSP Engineering, our workforce, supply chain and the local economy. Sellafield placing this order highlights the confidence our nuclear customers have in our proven ability to deliver the most technical and complex solutions within budget and programme plan. It is a significant step towards our ambition to further grow in the nuclear industry and highlights the calibre and skill of our award-winning workforce.”

“Creating a clean and safe environment is essential in all that we do at Sellafield. These packages help us achieve this” said Martin Chown, chief executive officer of Sellafield Ltd. “I was delighted to see a local business win this contract, which will lead to job creation and opportunities for West Cumbria. TSP Engineering is a world-class company. Its success in winning this contract proves our nuclear supply chain can compete with the best in the world”

The new contract is expected to run for a few years and will complete the fleet of packages needed to empty the silo, which is one of the NDA’s highest priority programmes.