nuclear-news

UK Ministry of Defence doesn’t know what to do with outdated nuclear test site

Nuclear reactor test site may close, Google News, (UKPA) –3 Nov 11 A nuclear submarine reactor test site could be decommissioned after 2015, the Ministry of Defence has said. The Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) site at Dounreay, in Caithness, has historically been used for the development of new reactor core designs.

However, the MoD said confidence in the technology and computational modelling meant “prototyping activities” were no longer needed. It is now considering what will become of the site after the current series of reactor core prototype tests are completed in 2015. Possibilities include decommissioning it or putting it into “care and maintenance”.

In a statement, the MoD said: “Options for the future of the site are currently being assessed; these range from placing the prototype facilities into care and maintenance while retaining the site’s strategic capabilities, to decommissioning the site and returning it to Nuclear Decommissioning Authority ownership…. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gIZLQQYe2lNLK4dKWPBN-LFRWCVQ?docId=N0428681320269334933A

November 3, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | decommission reactor, UK