Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND), has awarded 123 MNOK over a 12-year contract to international consortium, ICCircle, for the design, development, and maintenance of a bespoke integrated software system to support nuclear decommissioning and waste management.

NND, an agency under the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for decommissioning the research reactors and other related nuclear infrastructure in Norway. NND is also responsible for the safe handling, storage and disposal of nuclear waste.

This contract marks a significant advancement for NND, moving from the planning to the implementation phase of their data-driven nuclear decommissioning process for the Halden and Kjeller sites.

The multi-year project will result in an information and data management system designed to provide the insight and oversight NND needs to ensure safety and efficiency during their nuclear decommissioning and waste management process of key sites, which will run over at least 20 years. Pål Mikkelsen, director of NND commented; “NND has undertaken the strategic planning process for decommissioning and during this phase it was clear that data and information governance would be vital to successfully achieving our project goals. We need a system designed to solve the unique challenges at our sites and fit our exact decommissioning and waste management processes. The ICCircle consortium presented not only a well-designed system with a proven track record that gives a holistic support for our processes, but also the collective technical skills and industry expertise to adapt and inform our solution as we go through the implementation phase.

ICCircle is an international alliance of three specialist firms: Ingecid, Createc and Catenda, established as a legal entity in Norway. Ingecid, based in Spain, is a specialized engineering company which focusses on Nuclear Engineering, Software Development, Design and BIM, Project and Process Management and Structural Engineering. UK-based Createc is an innovative technical consultancy and Research and Development business with expertise in applied Computer Vision, Robotics, Nuclear Measurement and Optics. Catenda is an innovative Norwegian company building a modern lifecycle based common data environment to make the AECO industry data driven for sustainability . With such a unique combination of skills and experience, ICCircle is willing to commence the collaboration process leading to the provision of the most suitable solution for NND’s needs.

Javier Alonso, spokesperson for ICCircle said;

“The consortium companies are so delighted to have been awarded this contract, which is the start of a long-standing partnership with NND. We immediately identified with NND’s ambitions to put data and information management at the heart of their new nuclear decommissioning and waste management process. Together, ICCircle’s three organisations have extensive experience in the nuclear industry, BIM, and the development of software systems. We feel it’s an honour to be part of such a cutting-edge project where our innovative solutions can be applied to improve both safety and efficiency. We’re particularly excited that this project includes not only the creation of a product that can significantly improve the efficiency of the process, but also the on-going support, maintenance and consultancy required to ensure that the solution remains optimised and effective throughout our long-term relationship with NND.”

NND will begin its implementation phase at Halden and Kjeller sites from March 2022, with ICCircle contract commencing in February 2022.

About NND

  • NND is a government agency established in 2018 under the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry. NND has two main tasks: decommissioning the Norwegian nuclear facilities and management of all man-made radioactive waste for the benefit of current and future generations.
  • Norway’s two research reactors – the nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor at Halden and the JEEP-II neutron scattering facility at Kjeller – were declared permanently shut down in June 2018 and April 2019, respectively.
  • Although the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) is currently responsible as the licensee and owner of the nuclear facilities, IFE and NND work closely together to handle the clean-up after the nuclear activities.
  • The Norwegian state plans to transfer IFE’s nuclear facilities and associated staff to NND, with a target date of 1.1.2024. NND will at the same time become the licensee for the facilities.

About ICCircle

  • ICCircle is the common tool and administrative vehicle for Ingecid, Createc and Catenda to deliver first class effective services to NND
  • ICCircle is currently working to adapt the formal and practical deliveries to meet present and future needs of NND and to establish necessary systems, reporting procedures and organisational set-up.
  • Since the project will last for a long time and services will be provided in different stages (development and maintenance),  ICCircle needs to have a agile and adaptive approach to tasks and requirements from NND throughout the project.
  • An important aspect for ICCcircle will be to build up a project culture of good and robust day-to-day communication and collaboration with NND together with strong professional expertise.

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