THORP’s overall largest reprocessing customer has called for an immediate moratorium on any further reprocessing of its spent nuclear fuel at Sellafield. British Energy operates the UK’s fleet of Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactors (AGR) from which over 2000 tonnes of spent fuel had previously been contracted for THORP’s 7000 tonne Baseload.
In its submission on future radioactive waste policy to the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, British Energy has described reprocessing as an unnecessary and expensive exercise that it cannot afford. Pointing out that storage of spent fuel (rather than reprocessing) would be considerably cheaper, British Energy says there is no technical requirement to reprocess the fuel.
“ British Energy has made it clear in a previous submission to the Trade & Industry Select Committee that it would prefer not to reprocess AGR fuel, but it is constrained by contracts which BNFL are not currently prepared to renegotiate “ (British Energy submission to Waste Committee – emphasis added)
Recognising the long timescales likely to be involved in finalising UK’s nuclear waste management policy, British Energy raises its major concern about the recovery of more uranium and plutonium from continued reprocessing in THORP – materials it identifies as having no current economic value. British Energy has not previously used any reprocessed materials (because ‘it would be uneconmic to do so’) and is unlikely to do so in the short and medium term.
A CORE spokesperson said today “ In confirming exactly what we have been saying over the last 21 years, British Energy’s statement has pulled the rug from underneath BNFL’s claims for reprocessing. It must also weaken the case for the Sellafield MOX plant which the company and its DTI shareholder believe will bolster reprocessing business “
Note: As at April 2000, 1200 tonnes of AGR fuel had been reprocessed at THORP from a Baseload total of around 2200 tonnes. A further 2500 tonnes at least was contracted for THORP’s post-Baseload period.
For further information contact CORE or see British Energy website (Press Releases) on www.british-energy.com