The move comes as NMP consortium, which includes British and French energy firms Amec and Areva as well as US engineer URS, has been accused by the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office of cost overruns and delays.
BBC quoted a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokesperson as saying that the government is working with industry experts on alternative options.
Despite criticism for its performance, NMP, which had operated the site for more than six years, was granted a five-year extension to its contract in 2013.
The DECC spokesperson said: "Ed Davey has been very clear that he’s wanted to see more effective progress in decommissioning the biggest and most complex nuclear site in Europe, providing the best outcome for the taxpayer.
NMP, which owns and operates Sellafield Ltd on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, was awarded a 17-year contract to clean up the nuclear waste site at Sellafield in 2008.
GMB Union energy national secretary Gary Smith was quoted by BBC as saying: "We said the contract should not have been extended in 2013. The government needs to be held to account. Hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers money has been squandered."
NMP general manager Iain Irving said: "We understand that the NDA has been considering whether there are alternative options to the current arrangements for managing Sellafield. It is not possible for us to make any further comment at this time."
Image: NMP was awarded a 17-year contract to clean up the nuclear waste site at Sellafield. Photo: courtesy of © Sellafield Ltd.
