British project management firm Amec and American construction group CH2M Hill have teamed up with the UK Atomic Energy Authority to look for contract opportunities in the £2 billion a year market for cleaning up and decommissioning nuclear sites.

The Energy Authority, a public sector body, is already charged with cleaning up four former nuclear research sites - at Dounreay, Windscale, Harwell and Winfrith.

But with the Government- through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - opening up the clean-up market for competition, today's alliance between the three gives the AEA a greater chance of securing lucrative new contracts.

The three claimed today that the total market for contracts to clean up or wind down nuclear sites - including the 20 that exist in the UK - is worth £56 billion and said it was aiming to win a "sizeable slice" of the market in the UK.

They will initially target "select opportunities" in Britain.

Sir Peter Mason, the chief executive of Amec, said: "This alliance shows that the NDA's mission of bringing private sector expertise and competition into the UK civil nuclear market is working. This team has the right blend of nuclear and commercial skills to win a sizeable slice of the £2 billion a year market."

Dipesh Shah, the chief executive of the AEA, said: "UKAEA has led the way in decommissioning in this country, including the complete dismantling of 15 of our 26 research reactors, and accelerated programmes for our sites resulting in very substantial savings on lifetime costs."

But today's move to cash in on a competitive market for dealing with Britain's antiquated nuclear facilities comes as soaring energy costs prompt union bosses to call for increased use of nuclear power.

The unions, led by Amicus, believe the UK is facing mounting fuel costs that could ultimately lead to blackouts, job losses and rising household bills.

Derek Simpson, the leader of Amicus, told The Times today that his union will meet tomorrow to educate the public about the growing energy crisis.

He told the paper: "The debate on the energy crisis is in limbo and we need urgent action or Britain will face the prospect of blackouts and soaring utility bills over the next five years."

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Shares in Amec, which has experience of tackling nuclear sites in both the United States and Canada, closed on Friday at 351.75p, valuing the group at nearly £1.17 billion.

For detailed data on Amec shares click here

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