Nukem Technologies
German nuclear engineering company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NUKEM Technologies GmbH（branded as NUKEM）is a German nuclear engineering company based in Karlstein am Main, with a history dating back to 1960. The company specializes in nuclear decommissioning, radioactive waste management, spent fuel handling, and the development of TRISO fuel technology.
Rio Tinto
Mallinckrodt
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear engineering |
| Founded | 1 April 1960 as NUKEM GmbH (Nuklearchemie und –metallurgie GmbH) |
| Founder | Degussa Rio Tinto Mallinckrodt |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
| Services | Radioactive waste and spent fuel management Nuclear engineering and consulting Nuclear decommissioning TRISO fuel technology |
Number of employees | 170 |
| Parent | Muroosystems Corporation |
| Website | www |
The company's headquarters are located at the site of the former Kahl Nuclear Power Plant, which was decommissioned and restored by NUKEM.
Following several changes in ownership, NUKEM was affected by regulatory and commercial restrictions after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, when it was under Russian ownership. In April 2024, the company filed for self-administered insolvency in Germany. In October 2024, Muroosystems Corporation acquired core assets of the business, and operations continued under the restructured company.[1]
History
Founding and Fuel Cycle Operations (1960–1988)
NUKEM Technologies traces its origins to 1960, when NUKEM GmbH (Nuklearchemie und -metallurgie GmbH) was established through a joint investment by Degussa, Rio Tinto, and Mallinckrodt. The company initially focused on nuclear fuel element production and trade.[2]
In 1969, the company sold its light water reactor fuel business to KWU (a joint venture between Siemens and AEG), after which its activities shifted toward uranium trading, nuclear waste management, and engineering services.[3]
By the mid-1980s, NUKEM was engaged in both front-end and back-end nuclear fuel cycle services and participated in the Wackersdorf reprocessing plant project in Germany. The project was later cancelled in 1989 following political decisions and public opposition.[4]
RWE Ownership and International Expansion (1988–2005)
In 1988, NUKEM became a wholly owned subsidiary of RWE AG.[5]
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the company expanded its activities internationally, including projects at nuclear sites in Slovakia (Bohunice), Russia (Balakovo), and Ukraine (Khmelnytskyi).
In 2003, construction of a waste treatment facility at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was initiated.[6]
Private Equity Ownership and Business Restructuring (2006–2012)
In 2006, RWE sold NUKEM to Advent International for €205 million.[7]
Following the acquisition, the company was restructured, with nuclear fuel trading retained under the parent entity and engineering and waste management operations transferred to NUKEM Technologies GmbH.
In 2007, several subsidiaries were divested, including NUKEM Ltd. (UK), NUKEM Corp. (USA), NIS Ingenieure (Germany), and Assistance Nucléaire S.A. (France).[8]
In 2011, the isotope trading business was separated into NUKEM Isotopes GmbH.[9]
In 2012, the nuclear fuel trading division NUKEM Energy GmbH was sold to Cameco.[10]
Russian Ownership (2009–2024)
On 14 December 2009, NUKEM Technologies GmbH was acquired by Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Rosatom.[11][12]
In 2014, NUKEM Technologies Engineering Services GmbH was established as a subsidiary focusing on decommissioning and radioactive waste management.[13]
Following developments after 2022, the company faced operational constraints in European markets.[14]
In April 2024, insolvency proceedings were initiated in Germany.[15]
Acquisition by Muroosystems and Restructuring (2024–present)
On 29 May 2024, Muroosystems Corporation agreed to acquire shares in NUKEM Technologies Engineering Services GmbH and selected assets.[16]
Regulatory approval was granted in September 2024, and the transaction was completed in October 2024.[17]
In December 2024, NUKEM Technologies GmbH was liquidated, and remaining operations were transferred to NUKEM Technologies Engineering Services GmbH.[18]
Projects
NUKEM Technologies has been involved in projects related to nuclear decommissioning, radioactive waste management, spent fuel storage, and fuel-cycle technologies in several countries.[19][20][21][22]
Work at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania included the design and construction of interim spent fuel storage and solid waste treatment facilities.[19][20][21][22]
In South Africa, the company was awarded a contract in 2007 to design and supply a pilot fuel plant for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) programme; the project was later cancelled.[23]
Early-stage design and feasibility work for a 10 MW high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) experimental facility was carried out in Indonesia in cooperation with local partners and commissioned by the country's National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan).[24][25][26]
A dry spent fuel storage facility was constructed for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant in Bulgaria.[27]
Radioactive waste treatment and conditioning facilities were provided at the Leningrad and Kursk nuclear power plants in Russia.[28]
At the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, NUKEM developed and delivered a solid radioactive waste management complex.[6]
In France, the company participated in dismantling work at the Brennilis Nuclear Power Plant.[29]
Process equipment and related services for a spent ion exchange resin treatment facility were supplied for the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant in China.[30]
Pre-dismantling feasibility studies were conducted at the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant in Switzerland, including evaluation of methods for characterising radioactive concrete debris.[31]
Dismantling work at the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden was completed in cooperation with Uniper Nuclear Services GmbH, including removal of the final reactor pressure vessel.[32]
