EGREMONT-BASED firm James Fisher Nuclear has won a high value contract to help with the clean-up at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The sum involved has not been disclosed but is said to be worth “six figures”.

The operation saw off competition from both the UK and the rest of the world to get the work which will involve developing the technology needed to sample radioactive debris sitting below reactor cores at the Japanese site. The contract has been awarded by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Bertie Williams, business director for nuclear at JFN, said: “For some time, JFN has been regarded as an industry leader in this field and this award shows that our expertise and experience is recognised and valued worldwide.

“Few businesses in the nuclear arena realistically have the experience and personnel with the capabilities to take on such a challenging task and we are looking forward to working with MHI to design and develop this technology.

“Given that it required sampling and retrieval to take place both below and above the waterline with a variety of materials to deal with and with strict guidelines to control particulate release, it is a real credit to the team that they have devised such an effective solution to such a challenging problem”.

JFN is widely recognised as the UK’s number one in the business of decommissioning and remote-handling within the nuclear industry.