nuclear-news

Ballooning $billions cost of Uranium Processing Facility

Uranium facility’s cost leaps: Y-12 officials ‘taken aback’ but defend design increases Knoxville News Sentinel, Frank Munger, 20 Jan 2011, OAK RIDGE —A lot of folks were shocked last November when the projected cost of the Uranium Processing Facility jumped from $1.4-$3.5 billion to the current cost range of $4.2 billion to $6.5 billion.

Apparently even the folks at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant were surprised by the new numbers, which took into account the latest design information, delays in the proposed schedule and actual quotes from equipment vendors.’We were all, if you will, taken aback at the significant increase,’ said John Howanitz, B&W Y-12’s senior vice president for transformation and projects. ‘We went back and double-checked.’…….

The National Nuclear Security Administration has said it won’t have a definitive price tag until UPF design is 90 percent complete.

That milestone apparently won’t be reached for another year and a half. The new facility would house Y-12’s operations involving highly enriched uranium and manufacturing of nuclear warhead components……

Uranium facility’s cost leaps: Y-12 officials ‘taken aback’ but defend design increases » Knoxville News Sentinel

January 21, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Uranium, USA