Westinghouse, SKB reach agreement for nuclear cooling system enhancements

Westinghouse Electric Company and Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) of Sweden have reached an agreement that would increase the capacity of the latter's cooling system, Westinghouse announced Wednesday.

According to the announcement, the cooling system will allow the Central Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel (CLAB) to increase its management capacity to 11,000 tons of material.

“This project confirms Westinghouse’s position in the spent fuel management market,” Westinghouse vice president and managing director for Northern Europe Aziz Dag said. “Our previous work with CLAB has proven good results. We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue providing SKB with our high technology products and services.”

Westinghouse will proceed with the design and implementation of the system and will also decommission the current system to allow for a smooth transition period. The company states that it has a broad range of experience and expertise in areas of nuclear energy production including spent energy management, plant design, and nuclear waste treatment and conditioning. According to the announcement, the company has stationed itself as a leading force in the nuclear energy industry.

In 2013, it was awarded a contract with Spain's Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radioactivos to provide engineering services for nuclear waste management activity.