W2R Infrastructure Audit

Overview

Staffordshire County Council (SCC) procured and let a contract to Veolia ES Staffordshire Limited (Veolia) in 2010 for the design, build and operation of an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF), W2R to incinerate statutory waste and generate electricity. SCC are also the lead Partner in and have an IAA with Warwickshire County Council, Sandwell Council and Walsall Council. Veolia are contractually responsible for the maintenance of the Plant but the hand back requirements are the facility to be in physical and operational condition capable of operating with no more than routine maintenance. Ensuring a minimum residual operational life expectancy without major replacement by 31st March 2044. Veolia have requested that they reduce the planned maintenance outage to biennial rather than annually, in line with their other facilities. SCC and Partners agreed to trial this and monitor impact. We need to seek reassurance that this reduction is reasonable and effective to protect our asset. There are limited organisations/ businesses due to the technical specialism of our requirements. We are asking for a desk top review of the last outage report, 2 years ago, maintenance records over the last 2 years and reviewing the May 2025 maintenance outage plan. We are also asking for a physical inspection of the Plant during the outage when it will be accessible whilst the boilers are off.