Scandal-Plagued Canadian Firm Wins $2.3 Billion Contract to Handle Nuclear Waste in Piketon and Paducah

PIKETON, OH - AtkinsRéalis Group Inc., a Canadian engineering and nuclear services firm, has been awarded a $2.3 billion contract by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage nuclear materials at two key facilities. Partnering with Westinghouse Government Services and Jacobs Technology Inc., the company will operate the depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion plants in Paducah, Kentucky, and Piketon, Ohio, for the next decade. The joint venture, known as Mission Conversion Services Alliance (MCSA), builds on AtkinsRéalis’s longstanding collaboration with the DOE.

The project involves converting hazardous nuclear byproducts into stable materials for long-term storage and disposal while also providing site maintenance, security, and emergency management services.

AtkinsRéalis markets itself as a leader in nuclear services, particularly in environmental remediation and the decommissioning of aging nuclear infrastructure. However, critics of nuclear energy continue to raise concerns about the risks associated with nuclear waste management, especially the environmental consequences of storing materials that remain hazardous for thousands of years. Under the new contract, MCSA will focus on converting DUF6 into stable uranium oxide (UOx), maintaining the sites, and ensuring environmental safety.

Corporate History Raises Ethical Concerns

Formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, AtkinsRéalis has faced significant scrutiny over its corporate ethics, stemming from a history of corruption scandals. Over the past decades, the company has been accused of bribery, fraudulent practices, and illegal political donations in Canada and abroad.

One of the most notable cases involved allegations of bribing Libyan officials between 2001 and 2011, with over $47 million in payments made to secure contracts under Muammar Gaddafi’s regime. In another scandal, senior executives were implicated in a kickback scheme tied to the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, as well as an illegal reimbursement scheme for political donations to Canadian federal parties.

While AtkinsRéalis has taken steps to reform its corporate governance and rebuild trust, environmental advocates and anti-nuclear groups argue that its troubled past raises ethical concerns. These critics emphasize the risks of entrusting a company with such a history to manage radioactive materials with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Nuclear Waste Risks and Industry Challenges

Depleted uranium hexafluoride, a byproduct of uranium enrichment, poses significant hazards. The conversion process is designed to stabilize this material, yet doubts persist about the safety and long-term impact of storage solutions.

The Piketon site, one of the facilities involved, has a history of contamination. In 2024, the prior contractor overseeing the DUF6 conversion process was cited by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for safety violations. This legacy of safety concerns underscores ongoing challenges in the management of nuclear waste.

Critics of nuclear energy view these unresolved waste issues as a fundamental weakness in the industry’s sustainability claims. The long-lived hazards of radioactive materials and the potential for environmental contamination remain focal points in debates about the future viability of nuclear power as an energy source.