Conference aims to strengthen delivery of UK’s nuclear projects

Decommissioning strategies, management of nuclear waste, new regulatory approaches and ongoing operations will all be the focus of the Institution’s conference, Delivering Onsite Nuclear Projects, held 16-17 September in Manchester.

This essential event will provide nuclear power industry professionals with opportunities to learn from the successes of, and problems faced by, the UK’s nuclear industry. It will also give attendees opportunities to network with some of the most powerful influencers in the sector.

According to the conference Chair, Roger May, Shift Charge Engineer at Magnox and Member of the Nuclear Power Committee: "This is an excellent opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the current status of the UK nuclear energy industry and an insight into the most likely course of future developments."

"Novel techniques are being deployed to decommission shutdown plant, extend generation from established plants and secure the UK’s marine nuclear propulsion capability. At this event you will meet and hear from those who are closely involved with this work," he added.

Keynote speaker, Alan Bladon, Plant and Structures Programme Director at Magnox said: “Delivering nuclear projects is a challenging business. Hearing the experience and sharing lessons from previous projects is vital to reducing risks, improving performance and ensuring project outcomes.”

MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy and conference keynote speaker, John Robertson (pictured above), said: “Nuclear energy is a key part of the UK’s energy mix, but we must all work together to see it forward and make sure we have a positive common strategy for the years to come. This conference will allow us to discuss these issues in more detail and form links that will be crucial in the coming years.”

A pre-conference workshop called, Human Factors in the Nuclear Industry, will also be held on 15 September 2014. The workshop will explore the human issues associated with the design, build, commissioning, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear power stations. It aims to help equip mechanical engineers with additional knowledge to help facilitate safe and reliable human-system interactions within nuclear power plant facilities.
 
Read the full programme for the Institution’s conference Delivering Onsite Nuclear Projects: Decommissioning, Waste Management, Operational Excellence and Secure Delivery. 

Benefits of attending
Addressing the UK nuclear industry’s most pressing issues, the event will help attendees:

• Determine the root causes of problems by addressing procurement processes, ambiguous specification and control of the supply chain.
• Understand how Magnox created a strategy for the deplant, demolition and safestore of the Bradwell Construction Site.
• Discover the techniques and approaches adopted to successfully decommission an Active Handling Facility at Dounreay Site Restoration Limited.
• Understand the current government policy regarding nuclear developments and how it will impact sites.
• Discover lessons learnt from Falmanville 3, Olkiluoto and Taishan Unit 1 & 2 and Fukushima, and how they have affected plans for new builds within the UK.

Keynote speakers
Bringing together the UK nuclear industry’s most remarkable minds, the event will feature presentations from: 

• Alan Bladon, Plant and Structures Programme Director, Magnox. Alan is currently the plant and structures Programme Director responsible for a £1.4 billion decommissioning programme across Magnox. He was formerly the Safety Director for Magnox South and a Deputy Site Director. Alan has 10 years’ senior management experience in delivering projects for nuclear power stations, spanning operations and decommissioning.

• Dr Brian Burnett, Head of Programmes, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Brian has been in the nuclear sector since the late 1970s. Originally on the nuclear new build of the AGR programme he has worked on Ministry of Defence nuclear projects, nuclear decommissioning and waste management in the supply chain. He has held a variety of senior programme and business management roles with a particular interest in risk management and project behaviours.

• Neil Ivison, Head of Quality, Sellafield. Neil has extensive experience acquired through a variety of quality roles he has held during his 34 years of working in the nuclear industry. These roles have included managing multi-discipline inspection teams. For 13 years, Neil worked in an operational role as the Quality Manager in a mixed oxide fuel manufacturing plant and gained extensive experience of working with Japanese and German power utility customers.

• John Robertson, MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nuclear Energy. John has been a member of parliament for Glasgow North West since 2000. Through his work on the Energy and Climate Change Committee, John has campaigned against rising energy bills and excessive Big Six profits. John is also Chair of the Communications, Shipbuilding and Music Groups and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary.

• Andrew Ross, Head of Inspection Services, Sellafield. Andrew is responsible for the inspection and fabrication oversight for Sellafield as part of a supply chain worth approximately £900 million. Andrew has worked in the quality and inspection areas for the last 35 years, and the last 10 for Sellafield in a variety of management roles. Andrew is currently managing a team of 120 people, including engineers and inspectors spanning a variety of disciplines.

With nuclear energy such a topical issue, particularly in the lead up to the Scottish referendum, and with the International Energy Agency expecting global nuclear capacity to rise by 60% by 2035, this event is extremely timely.

Find out more about the Institution’s conference, held 16-17 September in Manchester: Delivering Onsite Nuclear Projects: Decommissioning, Waste Management, Operational Excellence and Secure Delivery. 

Book your place or email us at eventenquiries@imeche.org to ask a question.