U.S. Department of Energy Aiken, South Carolina, United States
Building the first weapon-grade plutonium processing plant in the United States
A matter of national security
The MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility was a key part of the U.S. government’s strategy for managing radioactive material left over from the Cold War’s nuclear arms race. It was designed to convert 3.5 metric tons of weapon-grade plutonium into MOX fuel assemblies for use in nuclear power plants. As a trade contractor, Alberici constructed major portions of this secure, 500,000-square-foot plant at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.
Extensive self-performance under NQA-1 standards
Alberici self-performed placement of more than 100,000 cubic yards of concrete on the project. The MOX project features nuclear safety concrete, which is designed and placed in compliance with ASME’s Nuclear Quality Assurance program (NQA-1) for quality levels 1 and 2.
Alberici’s scope of work also included installation of piping, permanent plant equipment, structural and miscellaneous steel, electrical systems, interim process equipment, and gloveboxes.
Marshalling resources to meet labor demands
Drawing on Alberici’s nationwide craft workforce, Alberici performed more than 4 million work hours. At approximately 43 percent of the site’s peak labor force, Alberici was the largest of the MOX Project’s 4,000 trade contractors and suppliers.
Commitment to safety
Alberici continuously sets the standard for safe work practices on the MOX Project and played a lead role in helping it achieve OSHA’s prestigious Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status. The VPP Star is OSHA’s highest safety program designation.