Radioactive Waste - What Will Stay?
14th September 2011
Dounreay sets out what will stay and what will go
Dounreay's decommissioning contractor today sets out what will happen to an estimated 300,000 tonnes of radioactive material from the clean-out and closure of the former nuclear research site.
More than 99 per cent is expected to remain indefinitely at Dounreay. A small amount of foreign radioactive waste and a stock of nuclear fuel inherited by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is earmarked for removal.
The plan is set out in a new leaflet, Radioactive Materials at Dounreay, published by Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, the site closure contractor to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
"We're 10 years into the decommissioning of the site. We've transported foreign fuel over the last 10 years, we're ready now to return the foreign waste and next year we'll be ready to start removal of the UK fuel," explained Alex Anderson, head of waste and fuels at DSRL.
"We're delivering the NDA's mission to close down the site and we're honouring the government's pledge to send back foreign waste.
"Of the 300,000 tonnes of radioactive material we need to manage as part of the closure of the site, it is a relatively small amount - a fraction of one per cent - that is earmarked to leave the site. The leaflet published today explains the reasons for this, its safety and the importance of security wherever nuclear materials are involved."
Demolishing the site is expected to yield some 300,000 tonnes of radioactive material.
A few hundred tonnes that belong elsewhere is earmarked for removal. This includes the return of waste to customers of the former UKAEA Fuel Services business who sent their fuel to Dounreay for reprocessing in the 1990s, and the return to UK national stocks of plutonium and uranium that could be used again to generate electricity.
The storage of foreign waste is limited to a maximum of 25 years, in accordance with UK Government policy about the return of waste.
The exact amount of foreign waste to be returned will depend on the outcome of a recent consultation by the Scottish and UK governments on "waste substitution". This would allow former UKAEA customers to exchange their waste at Dounreay for an equivalent amount from a different stock held by the NDA.
The foreign waste at Dounreay includes 153 tonnes from the reprocessing of fuel for a research reactor at Mol, Belgium that produces isotopes for nuclear medicine across Europe.
The Belgians have not requested substitution, so DSRL obtained clearance from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under EU regulations to enable the Belgians to collect their waste.
The waste, in a cement form, is contained in 500-litre steel drums. The first transport by sea is scheduled to commence in autumn 2011.
Photo from DSRL
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Workers at the Dounreay nuclear power complex in Caithness have voted to strike in a dispute over pay. The GMB union said its ballot had an 85% turnout.
Land is to be acquired by government to underpin nuclear revival. In a historic day for the UK's energy security, Great British Nuclear (GBN) is buying land for new nuclear development from Hitachi at both Wylfa in Ynys Môn/Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in Gloucestershire.
GAD has built a pension benefit modeller to support the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as it undertakes a pension reform programme. The Government Actuary's Department (GAD) has supported the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) as it undertakes a pension reform programme.
This week, the NDA group hosted it's first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester, with over 600 candidates in attendance. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group held its first ever large-scale graduate recruitment event in Manchester this week, bringing together more than 600 candidates as it looks to double the number of opportunities across its graduate schemes this year.
The NDA Draft Business Plan sets out key activities and expected progress for all 17 of the NDA's nuclear sites over the next 3 years. We want to hear from anyone who has a comment on any aspect of this document.
NRS is delighted to announce that we are recruiting over 30 level 2 - 6 engineering and business apprentices to deliver our decommissioning mission. John Vickerman, Chief People Officer, commented: "NRS is an exciting place to be.
Leaders from the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) signed their second cooperation statement. Yesterday, Monday 20 November 2023, leaders from the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) reaffirmed their commitment to share their knowledge, experience and technology in relation to the management of radioactive waste.
Today, Monday 20 November, the NDA has opened registration for its tenth nuclear decommissioning supply chain event, which will be held at The International Centre in Telford on 27 June 2024. Launched in 2011, the supply chain event has gone on to attract a total of around 10,000 visitors from more than 20 countries over the years, representing thousands of companies both large and small.
A key programme of work at the Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria is making real progress. The Repository, which is part of Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and manages disposal of the UK's low level radioactive waste, has started key work on the final capping of historic trenches and vaults which are now full and ready for permanent closure.
Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) and Women in Nuclear (WiN UK) hosted an event for young people to promote and showcase career opportunities in the nuclear industry. Around 150 students attended the first ever Nuclear Connection Science Fair in Oxford, hosted by NWS and Women in Nuclear (WiN UK) on 10 November 2023.
