RPV dismantling at the Stade nuclear power plant. Innovative implementation

In modern RPV dismantling, the highest quality standards are indispensable. This means very rapid project processes oriented on safety and protection targets, without contamination carryover or aerosol migration. E.ON Kernkraft treated these standards as fundamental principles when awarded the order for the RPV dismantling at the Stade nuclear power plant. Taken off the grid in 2003, the plant has been in maintenance operation since 2005. In March 2009, E.ON Kernkraft contracted the consortium Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH (NIS) as the consortium leader, together with E.ON Anlagenservice GmbH (EAS), to dismantle and package the Stade nuclear power plant RPV, as a component of dismantling phase III. The planning, procurement of equipment and sampling, and the commissioning of the equipment at the worksite were all performed by the consortium within a period of 16 months. The actual process of dismantling the RPV was performed within a period of 4 months. Due to the rapid progression of the project, the RPV head was also made a part of the assignment, and was thermally dismantled within 13 working days, and then packaged. The client's requirement for a project uncompromisingly oriented on safety and protection targets, including minimisation of risk and waste, was completely fulfilled. The contract was even fulfilled ahead of schedule and within the agreed budget. (orig.)