nuclear-news

By James Murray

21 Jan 2014

The UK’s ambitious plans for a new generation of nuclear reactors that could be fuelled using the country’s stockpile of waste radioactive material took an important step forward yesterday, as the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) announced that it had identified three “credible” approaches for reusing separated plutonium.

The NDA last year undertook a review of the government’s “preferred option” of reusing plutonium as MOX fuel, and also looked at the credibility of alternative proposals put forward by GE-Hitachi and Candu.

The agency yesterday published a position paper on its review, indicating that a possible a U-turn could be on the cards as each of the three proposals represents a “credible reuse option” for the UK’s plutonium stockpile.

“This work has resulted in NDA concluding that reuse remains the preferred option and, based on the information provided and against our definitions, there are three credible reuse options: – reuse as MOX in light water reactors, reuse in CANDU EC6 reactors and reuse in PRISM fast reactors,” the NDA stated. “We note all the technologies being considered have pros and cons and that no “perfect” solution exists. It may be that a multi-track approach offers best value for money.”

The organisation added that it now intended to undertake one to two years of technical studies to “establish a consistent level of understanding of risks and uncertainties for each option”.

The news was welcomed by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), which has long argued that its so-called PRISM reactor represents the most cost effective and environmentally friendly means of re-using waste radioactive material. “The UK has the largest storage of civil plutonium anywhere in the world and its government is committed to re-using that material as an asset rather than a liability, maximizing taxpayer benefits,” said Mark Elborne, president and chief executive of GE UK and Ireland, in a statement. “We believe PRISM offers the most effective solution for accomplishing this goal and look forward to the next stage of this process. PRISM can not only re-use the UK plutonium stockpile safely and responsibly whilst generating a step-change in industrial opportunity, but can also provide significant revenue for UK taxpayers. This is a socially and financially responsible solution.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said the government would continue to explore all of the options assessed by the NDA.

“The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s advice on plutonium management and on the potential options for its implementation are essential to the overall delivery of a final solution for plutonium disposition,” she said. “As we noted in our 2011 consultation response, there will be many steps to go through before we reach the point of taking a final decision on the technology for plutonium disposition. This will include a competitive tendering and procurement process to help secure best value to the taxpayer. We will only be in a position to proceed when Government is confident that the NDA’s preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, and is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money.”

In related news, the Observer newspaper reported this weekend on fresh criticism over the government’s plans to bury nuclear waste in Cumbria. The paper reported that David Smythe, the emeritus professor of geophysics who conducted a 3D seismic survey in west Cumbria in the 1990s, remained convinced that it would be “irresponsible and dangerous” to use the region for underground storage of radioactive waste material, despite the completion of as recent government consultation that attempts to revive plans to use Cumbria as the location for a new storage facility.