Steve Franks Email and Phone Number

Responsible for the safe and effective management of the Sizewell A decommissioning programme portfolio which cover the decommissioning of both Conventional and Radiologically significant plant. Responsible for managing a team of 45 people to effectively remove/remediate both conventional and radiological hazards that enable the site to become passively safe.

I had the overall responsibility for the management and safe delivery of the scope, schedule and cost for the redundant spent fuel cooling Pond Decommissioning Programme. This is a £50m project that aims to safely deal with a range of complex nuclear wastes (including fuel element debris and both intermediate and low-level wastes) to enable the draining and stabilising of the pond; a prerequisite to the site entering into a safe and passive state. The programme has a work force of 38 permanent staff and a range of contracted resources that, to date, have completed various stages of the programme, from enabling works through to the size reduction of redundant pond equipment using Nuclear Divers and the removal of various waste streams from the Pond. The Ponds are now drained and stabilised.

Overseeing the transition of the site from a defueling to decommissioning organisation, which included the release of staff through redundancy and counselling remaining staff into their new roles. This role also involved managing regulatory issues with the site transition into a decommissioning structure. Acting as a deputy to the Site Director, liaising with senior executives on matters relating to the safe operation and running of the site

Directly responsible for the safe and compliant removal of all nuclear fuel from the site. This involved managing a team of ~20 staff to ensure effective planning and co-ordination of maintenance and operational activities to transfer fuel from the reactor cores, through the ponds, packaged into transport flasks and shipped to Sellafield for re-processing. Liaison with various regulators to manage the various aspects of this work, including ONR and Euroatom for fuel free verification, ONR CNS for declassification of the site security arrangements and EA discharge consents for management of pond water.

Responsible for managing the operational support activities associated with the Fuel Route of a Nuclear Power Station. This included the planning and co-ordination of refuelling programmes, routine, statutory and breakdown maintenance activities, monitoring and co-ordinating of spent fuel movement programmes including liaison with central functions for offsite fuel shipments.

Responsible for a team of planners and scheduler’s co-ordinating routine, statutory and breakdown maintenance on plant and equipment associated with the Generation of Electricity on a Nuclear Power Plant. This included the management of the Nuclear, Environmental and Statutory Maintenance schedules ensuring that the site remained compliant with obligations under its site licence.

Preparing specifications for the repair, overhaul and modification of mechanical equipment on both conventional and nuclear related plant. Preparing contract specifications for the modification of plant and equipment for work carried out by external suppliers /contract staff. Monitoring contractors’ performance and quality standards for the delivery of their work.

Monitoring plant performance, preparing work instruction for repair and overhaul of mechanical plant associated with the Bradwell Nuclear Power Station. Liaising with suppliers to enable the overhaul and repair of pumps, valves, cranes, lifting equipment and pipework systems.

Carrying out the repair of pumps, valves, cranes, conveyors, turbines, alternators, mills etc, all associated with this dual fired power station