Taxpayer cops endlessly rising costs of decommissioning nuclear reactor

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said that costs changed over time and were constantly being reassessed.

Cost of clearing Suffolk nuclear plant set to soar to nearly £1bn – Norfolk News – EDP24, 4 Oct 10, The estimated cost of clearing the Sizewell A nuclear power station site on the east coast is now a massive £927m, according to new figures.Taxpayers will pick up most of the bill because the twin reactor plant, as well as 20 other reactors around the country, are state-owned – some by the Ministry of Defence for the production of weapons-grade plutonium.
The cost of decommissioning all of the UK’s first-generation Magnox nuclear power stations, together with research facilities and the reprocessing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, is presently expected to be £37.1billion.

Four years ago, the estimated cost of clearing the decommissioned Sizewell A site was £870m.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said that costs changed over time and were constantly being reassessed.

The NDA’s only income is from two Magnox power stations elsewhere in the country, which are still generating electricity, and land sales which have already raised £400m. But it has huge liabilities in terms of clearing nuclear sites…….Under current plans, all the Sizewell spent fuel will be removed from the reactor by 2013.

Demolition of ancillary buildings will continue until 2034 when the site will be moth-balled in a “care and maintenance” phase – to allow radioactivity levels to subside. Final site clearance work is due to start in 2088………..Members of the public have until November 24 to comment on the NDA’s draft strategy. It can be accessed via its website at http://www.nda.gov.uk/consultations

Cost of clearing Suffolk nuclear plant set to soar to nearly £1bn – Norfolk News – EDP24

October 5, 2010 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | decommission reactor, UK | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactor