Ezzat
- Name
- Ezzat
- Job Title
- Chemical engineer
- Company
- Magnox North
Working at a nuclear power station isn’t as gloomy as it may sound at first. I’m living in Bristol (a great city!) and a half hour drive out to Berkeley in the county side first thing in the morning can be really refreshing. My day generally starts slowly – catching up with colleagues in the office and hearing about the different projects our team is involved in.
I’ve been heavily involved in radioactive water treatment since starting last year. Water is used quite a lot to ‘wash’ radioactive contamination off certain components resulting in demand for new treatment plants to be designed and commissioned on most power stations. I’m currently involved in the commissioning of a radioactive water treatment plant in Hunterston. I’ve been travelling up to Scotland regularly (again, beautiful country side and Glasgow’s a great city!) carrying out tests on the plant, writing work instructions for operators and playing an active role in coming up with solutions when things go wrong!
Chemical engineering is a well rounded profession and I’ve found that I’m able to involve myself in the ‘big picture’ of nuclear decommissioning strategy as well. I’ve recently spent afternoons in meetings where all the UK’s nuclear waste streams have been put on the table and the processes and technologies needed to tackle them have been developed to come up with a cohesive, cross the fleet plan. With such intense days becoming the norm, the drive back in to the city is complemented with a good pint of Bristolian cider in mind!
Advice for a New Graduate
Being an engineer in the nuclear industry requires working to the highest standards of safety and reliability. Complying with all the regulations in place to ensure this happens gives you the chance to work as part of a meticulous design process. This offers a great foundation to build a career on. Having said this, it’s easy to get bogged down with all the regulatory stuff where engineering becomes a distant memory. My advice would be to pursue what you want – it’s your career and you have the right to choose what you want to get involved in. Be bold!
Highlight of Job so Far
The highlight so far has to be playing a big part in the commissioning of the new active effluent treatment plant. It’s given me real insight into the complexity of a technical project – all the different parties involved and all the opportunities that arise from dealing with so many people. It’s been great getting my hands dirty while at the same time realising the fruits of my efforts sat at a desk!
Comments about the Graduate Scheme
The graduate scheme here at Magnox North is a real plus. The courses you get sent on are really useful and making new friends with all the other graduates that are in the same boat as you is self assuring. You get the feeling that the company cares about the early development of your career – I have a mentor and a detailed ‘development plan’ which both serve to lead me in the right direction.
Hopes for the Future
I intend to build on the experience I’ve gained so far and become a chartered chemical engineer in the not too distant future. This will enable me to get involved in more interesting projects, take on more responsibility and offer more valuable technical input. Chemical engineering is so varied; you can design plant to process anything from chocolate biscuits and loo roll to pharmaceuticals and radioactive sludges, and I’m really looking forward to broadening my horizons.