Plea for Vulcan workers in Caithness to play part in Australian nuclear submarine systems
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Royal Navy chiefs are being urged to consider the far north as it progresses plans to provide reactors for Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarines.
Given the Caithness site's long-time expertise in nuclear sub propulsion systems, Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG) is keen to sound out the chances of spin-offs for its area.
It follows the awarding of a long-term contract to Rolls-Royce as part of the AUKUS defence agreement between Australia, the UK and the US.
The Australian sub deal is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for the firm, which is contracted by the Ministry of Defence to run Vulcan.
DSG chairman Struan Mackie said the contract is a major feather in the cap for the Derby-based firm.
While the new project will be based in the city, he said DSG wants to ensure the far north does not miss out on any potential work.
At the very least, it does not want the lure of the AUKUS contract to result in Vulcan workers jumping ship.
Mr Mackie said: "This is an international contract worth billions of pounds which will last for decades and it seems a bit sad to me if there is no benefit coming to this area.
"After all, the workforce at Vulcan has lived and breathed naval propulsion systems for many years."
Up until its last reactor was shut down in 2015, the plant played a key role in supporting the UK nuclear submarine fleet for more than 50 years.
While Vulcan is now in rundown mode, Rolls-Royce has repeatedly said it foresees having a future in Caithness after the site is levelled.
DSG has been looking for opportunities to win spin-off businesses at Vulcan and its next-door neighbour, the redundant civil nuclear plant at Dounreay, by capitalising on the specialist skills of the workforces of both sites.
Mr Mackie said work from the AUKUS contract need not go ahead at Vulcan but in another location in the far north.
"As the programme begins to pick up speed and jobs and supply opportunities build up, hopefully there could be some opportunities created up here."
He fears that without any input in the project in the far north, there could be a risk of skilled, specialist personnel from Vulcan opting to head south to a new role at Derby.
He stressed: "I'd never want to say that decommissioning is somehow an inferior operation but getting some benefit from the (AUKUS) programme here would be a big boost."
DSG's plea is contained in a letter to Commodore Elton Sharkey, director of nuclear propulsion at the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA).
It states: "The development, deployment and testing of nuclear propulsion at Vulcan fostered a dedicated and experienced workforce both with the SDA and Rolls-Royce.
"As this agreement develops and as the Vulcan site progresses towards decommissioning, DSG wishes to ask what consideration the skills, expertise and knowledge based in Caithness have been given to such an internationally significant programme?
"While it is clear and deeply regrettable that the Royal Navy do not foresee a future use for the Vulcan site, we do wish to be reassured that the community that provided it the social licence to operate will not be left behind.
"Given the clear importance of transitioning our community away from nuclear prototypical and testing activities, we would welcome our area to be viewed as a logical place to support this programme.
"We would welcome due consideration to our community's skills, experience and willingness to support nationally significant defence programmes."
Its plea has also been sent to defence secretary Ben Wallace.
