Local pressure group CORE (Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment) has today condemned the resumed import by BNFL of five more transport flasks containing spent nuclear fuel waste from the Neckarwestheim and Biblis power stations in Germany. The shipment, which contains around 13 tonnes of spent fuel waste, arrived at Barrow Docks over the weekend … [Continue Reading]

Contrary to claims made recently by BNFL that its involvement in the supply of depleted uranium to the Ministry of Defence ended in 1991 at the time of the Gulf War, documents show clearly that the company’s involvement in this weapons trade was continuing even in late 1993. The documents in CORE’s possession, from United … [Continue Reading]

n reporting tomorrow what will almost certainly be the worst ever set of figures since the company’s formation in 1971, BNFL has gone to considerable lengths to keep the public in the dark about the true financial plight of the company. Once again dispensing with the practice of holding a wide-ranging press conference, to which … [Continue Reading]

Following yesterday’s meeting between the Prime Minister and local members of the Sort Out Sellafield team, local pressure group CORE has condemned Tony Blair’s willingness to act as a BNFL tout for securing new business for the company on his forthcoming trip to Japan. CORE said today “ This smacks of a weak and ill-informed … [Continue Reading]

Following BNFL’s admission of sabotage at its Sellafield Vitrification Plant earlier this year, information has been received by CORE that workers at the THORP reprocessing plant are taking guns into the plant for ‘target practice’. An anonymous letter received by CORE on 11th July discloses that this serious security breach came to light when air … [Continue Reading]

A decision at Copenhagen yesterday by members of the OSPAR commission to give priority attention to moving away from reprocessing and towards the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel was shunned by the UK and French governments. Despite attempts by all other members of OSPAR to ensure the protection of our shared marine environment, the … [Continue Reading]

In evidence to the Trade & Industry Select Committee yesterday, BNFL Chairman Hugh Collum confirmed that THORP had reprocessed over 800 tonnes of spent fuel this financial year (ending 31st March 2000). In an effort to impress the cross-party committee members, Mr Collum described the plant’s performance as the best yet – but omitted to … [Continue Reading]

Just weeks after the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate’s damning criticisms of Sellafield, BNFL has confirmed that damage has been inflicted by saboteurs on equipment at the Vitrification Plant (B355). Wire cables on six giant robotic arms had been deliberaterly cut at the plant where High Level Wastes are vitrified for storage in stainless steel containers. Both … [Continue Reading]

Saboteurs have struck in Sellafield’s Vitrification plant where highly radioactive liquid wastes from reprocessing are turned into glass form. BNFL has confirmed what appears to be deliberate damage to wire cables on six master slave manipulators (MSM’s). The plant was closed down temporarily. The NII has been informed and the UKAEA CID have been called … [Continue Reading]

In one of three damning reports issued today, Inspectors from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) have identified years of widespread manipulation of quality assurance data for plutonium-based MOX fuel manufactured at Sellafield. Their investigation of the small demonstration plant has revealed levels of malpractice on a far greater scale than previously thought. Since evidence of … [Continue Reading]