NDA to begin returning fuel to UK stocks
29th November 2011
Almost half the stock of nuclear fuel left over at Dounreay from its research role in the last century is to begin leaving the site next summer.
Forty-four tonnes of breeder material from the Dounreay Fast Reactor will be moved by rail from Caithness to Cumbria over a 4-5 year period.
The material is to be reprocessed at the Sellafield nuclear site to recover fuel that could be used to generate electricity in the future.
The announcement was made today by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which inherited the material after the research programme ceased.
A "preferred option paper" published by the NDA in July generated responses from 12 organisations and individuals. The NDA's response to these comments is also published today.
DSRL will work closely with train operator DRS, Sellafield Sites Ltd and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary to secure the safe delivery of the breeder material to Cumbria, following today's announcement.
"We've moved out the foreign nuclear fuel over the past 10 years and this decision lets us now start returning the UK fuel," said Alex Anderson, head of fuel and waste at site closure contractor DSRL. "It is the beginning of the end for nuclear transports in the Highlands."
Dounreay's other materials containing plutonium, such as unirradiated mixed oxide fuel, are currently the subject of an NDA assessment into potential future management routes. One of the options includes transportation to and management at Sellafield. NDA is expected to publish a paper on this subject early in 2012.
The site is in the process of being dismantled.
Links
NDA - www.nda.gov.uk/
DRS - www.directrailservices.com/
Civil Nuclear Constabulary - www.cnc.police.uk/
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.
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.
NRS Dounreay and socio economic partners hosted the second FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge North Highland Tournament in March with local schools taking part. The North Highland tournament took place in March at ETEC on the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) North West and Hebrides Thurso Campus.
Unite the union confirmed around 450 of its members employed by Magnox Limited based at Dounreay power station are being balloted for strike action in a pay dispute. The ballot which is now open will close on 2 April.
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.
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.