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 in to investigate the damage, and BNFL plan to start ‘appropriate proceedings’ against any person found to have deliberately caused the damage. This latest embarrassment for the Company follows the recent criticisms by the NII on safety at Sellafield, high level waste management, and falsification of MOX fuel data. With the latter, the discovery of screws and other debris in MOX fuel rods has also suggested sabotage. A CORE spokesperson said today “ This is frightening news from a site which appears to be out of control and in the hands of inefficient managers and bored and mindless workers with grudges against the company. This Sellafield shambles must be stopped immediately and we look to both government and regulators to take the necessary action without delay in order to properly protect the public from a company and workforce which has gone off the rails “. The Sellafield Vitrification plant (B355), officially opened in 1991, has a poor operating record. The plant’s two vitrification lines were projected to produce a total of 600 containers of waste each year, but current figures show the plant to have achieved under 50% of that target. A new, third vitrification line, due in operation towards the end of this year is expected to increase production to the 600 containers per year level. In 1993 BNFL was convicted and fined for unauthorised software modifications in the Vitrification Plant which caused a failure of a shield door inter-lock safety system. In 1997, a significant leak of Ruthenium from the plant led to off-site contamination. Worker evacuation and contamination incidents over the years, together with a series of recent pipe-blockages which caused considerable NII concern, paint a picture of a plant operating well below the standards expected when dealing with such highly radioactive and dangerous materials. For further information contact CORE on 01229 833851. Note: MSM’s are automated lever systems operated from outside the plant and which allow internal equipment to be moved.