One of the UK’s most iconic nuclear plants has completed a key last job before operations end next month.
Staff at Sellafield’s Magnox Reprocessing Plant have reprocessed the final box of spent fuel from the UK’s fast reactor programme being stored in the plant’s ponds.
It was announced in May that the facility will finish reprocessing on July 18 to enter a new era of decommissioning and clean-up.
This latest achievement marks its final major contribution to managing the UK’s nuclear legacy in a journey that stretches back to 1964.
The UK’s fast reactor, at Dounreay, was built during the 1950s when there was a world-wide shortage of uranium for electricity generation. It became the world’s first fast reactor to provide electricity to a national grid before shutting down in 1977.
Fast reactors came to an end in the UK in the 1980s. But the programme left behind a legacy of spent fuel with a unique chemical composition.
This remained at Dounreay, on the north coast of Scotland, for 35 years until the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and nuclear regulators agreed it could be brought to Sellafield for storage and reprocessing.
Martin Chown, Sellafield Ltd chief executive officer, said: “Throughout its history, the Magnox Reprocessing Plant has delivered on behalf of the UK.
“The current workforce has carried on this proud tradition by achieving another significant milestone in its final weeks of operations.
“It’s a significant achievement and another demonstration of us delivering our purpose to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.”
Reprocessing the final box of Dounreay fuel being held at the Magnox plant marks the completion of a 10-year programme. It was important to reprocess the fuel to minimise the amount requiring future dry storage.
The programme involved teams at Dounreay, Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Transport Solutions.
A small amount of fuel remains at Dounreay which will be transferred to Sellafield for dry storage. It will eventually be consigned to a Geological Disposal Facility.
